State unemployment holds steady

Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.2 percent in August, unchanged from the previous month.

Last month, nonfarm payroll employment in the state increased by 17,900 jobs, led by an increase of 4,900 in the manufacturing sector, according to a Sept. 18 news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Develompent.

For the state's fiscal year, which began July 1, Missouri employers have added 25,200 jobs - outpacing the fiscal 2011 gain of 21,386 jobs.

Missouri's August unemployment rate was below the national jobless rate of 8.1 percent, the release said.