Unemployment rate rises in Springfield metro area

The Springfield metropolitan statistical area's unemployment rate increased in June, in line with the state's other largest metro areas.

The Springfield MSA – which comprises Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties – recorded a jobless rate in June of 3.8%, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release. That's up from 3.6% in May.

The state’s metro areas, by June unemployment rate, are as follows:
• Columbia, 3.6%, up from 3.3% in May
• Jefferson City, 3.6%, up from 3.4%
• Kansas City, 3.8%, up from 3.5%
• Springfield 3.8%, up from 3.6%
• St. Joseph, 4.1%, up from 3.6%
• Cape Girardeau, 4.3%, up from 3.9%
• St. Louis, 4.3%, up from 3.9%
• Joplin, 4.4%, up from 4.1%

Missouri's June unemployment rate increased to 4.2% from 3.9% in May. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Compared with a year prior, June's unemployment rates were higher in 336 of the 389 metro areas measured nationwide by the BLS, lower in 40 and unchanged in 13. The Springfield MSA's June 2023 unemployment rate was 2.8%.