Unemployment drops throughout Bootheel

Business Today

Missouri's unemployment rate dropped in April as did that in the six-county Bootheel region.

The state's unadjusted unemployment rate slipped from 5.2 percent in March to 4.5 percent April, and was a full percentage point lower than the same month a year ago. It was also nine-tenths of a point lower than the national jobless rate of 5.4 percent in April.

Unemployment in the Bootheel in April averaged 5.8 percent, down from 6.7 percent in March and 8.2 percent in April 2003.

Butler County reported the lowest unemployment among the seven lower counties in Southeast Missouri, 3.9 percent compared with 4.5 percent in March and 5.1 percent a year ago.

The six Bootheel counties all reported declining unemployment rates in April with Scott and Stoddard counties experiencing the lowest unemployment at 4.8 percent. Pemiscot County reported the highest jobless rate, 8.2 percent in April.

Unemployment in Dunklin County at 6.3 percent was down nine-tenths of a percentage point from the March rate of 7.2 percent and more than two points lower than the 8.4 percent rate of April a year earlier.

The Pemiscot County jobless rate declined from 8.2 percent in March to 9.1 percent in April and was down substantially from 12 percent rate of April last year.

In Mississippi County, unemployment fell to 4.6 in April from 5.9 percent in March and 6.4 percent in April 2003.

The Scott County jobless rate in April of 4.8 percent compares with 5.4 percent in March and 5.9 percent last April.

Unemployment continues to improve in Stoddard County falling to 4.8 percent in April from the March rate of 5.6 percent and the April 2003 rate of 6.4 percent.

And, in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties, unemployment declined to 3.5 percent and 5.1 percent respectively in April.

Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5 percent in March to 4.7 percent in April. The rate was also 4.7 percent in January. The new lowest rate had been a 4.8 percent in September 2001.

The state's jobless rate was significantly better than the 5.6 percent national rate.

Missouri has gained 34,600 jobs in the past year, Bill Niblack, a research manager for the Department of Economic Development said.

With the exception of construction, all major industries experienced gains in April. Construction was down about 1,000 jobs for the month, but was still ahead of last year.

The leisure and hospitality sector was up by 7,000 jobs, professional and business services increased by 3,900 jobs while manufacturing gained 2,500 jobs.

The lowest unemployment rate in April was 1.3 percent in Nodaway County, with Boone County next at 1.9 percent.

There were no reports of double-digit unemployment in April.

Wayne County in Southeast Missouri reported the highest jobless rate in April, 8.7 percent, followed by the City of St. Louis at 8.6 percent.