Unemployment rate in Springfield metro area rises

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area’s unemployment rate rose to 2.6 percent in December from 2.1 percent in November, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Springfield MSA — comprising Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties — ranked third among the eight metro areas in Missouri. All of the state’s MSAs posted jobless rate increases in December, according to a news release.

Missouri’s MSAs, in order of December unemployment rates, are:
• Columbia, 2.1 percent, up from 1.8 percent from November;
• Jefferson City, 2.5 percent, up from 2 percent;
• Springfield, 2.6 percent, up from 2.1 percent;
• Joplin, 2.7 percent, up from 2.3 percent;
• St. Joseph, 2.8 percent, up from 2.3 percent;
• Cape Girardeau, 2.9 percent, up from 2.4 percent;
• Kansas City, 3.1 percent, up from 2.7 percent; and
• St. Louis, 3.4 percent, up from 2.9 percent.

Missouri’s unemployment rate climbed to 3 percent from 2.5 percent in November, according to the release. The BLS data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with December 2017, unemployment rates last month were lower in 250 of the 388 metro areas measured by the BLS, higher in 116 and unchanged in 22.

During December, the national unemployment rate was 3.9 percent.