Missouri gains 6,000 jobs in April

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri added about 6,000 jobs in April as its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down slightly.

Figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Economic Development also show that Missouri added more jobs in March than originally thought. The March job growth was revised upward from 4,800 new jobs to 6,800 jobs.

Missouri's unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point in April to 7.3 percent. The department said that is the lowest level in 40 months.

The national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in April.

The most recent county unemployment data available from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center is for the month of March.

Local area unemployment rates for March were:

* Bollinger County, 7.7 percent

* Cape Girardeau County, 6.9 percent

* Perry County, 5.6 percent

* Scott County, 7.6 percent.