State unemployment falls to 4.6 percent

The trade, transportation and utilities sector was up 3,400 jobs for the month. An increase was also apparent in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 900 jobs.

Missouri created 3,800 nonfarm jobs in December, pushing the state’s unemployment rate for the month to 4.6 percent. The rate was 4.8 percent a year earlier.

In the last 12 months, Missouri created a total of 22,400 jobs. Significant additions in 2006 were seen in government, retail trade, health care and social assistance, and professional and business services, while manufacturing employment declined.