Wayne County has second highest July unemployment rate

JEFFERSON CITY -- Although Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.4 percent in June to 5.2 percent in July, and the state's unadjusted unemployment rate dropped from 5.5 percent in June to 5.4 percent in July, the Department of Economic Development Department recently reported that Wayne County had the second highest unadjusted unemployment rate in the state - 11.7 percent.

The Missouri county with the highest unadjusted unemployment rates in July was Linn County at 12.5 percent. Douglas County came in third place after Wayne County with a 10.8 percent unadjusted unemployment rate.

The adjusted rate accounts for normal changes in employment patterns.

It was previously reported that Missouri's workforce shrunk by just over 2 percent between June 2001 and June 2002, leaving the state with the highest percentage of job losses in the nation. The number of Missourians with jobs in June of this year was 2,687,200.

Unemployment usually rises in July as some students and summer job seekers have difficulty finding work, the department said. Missouri's unadjusted employment rate remained well below the 6 percent national rate.

The construction and manufacturing sectors gained jobs while service-producing industries showed job losses. Over the past year, non-farm payrolls have lost 43,500 jobs, including 18,700 in manufacturing. Construction employment is down 7,000 jobs over the past year.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Boone County at 2.3 percent and Nodaway County at 2.8 percent.