Missouri jobless rate rises slightly in September

From staff and wire reports

Missouri's unemployment rate inched up in September to 5.6 percent, slightly higher than the August rate, and higher than the national rate for the second straight month, federal data released last week shows.

Missouri's rate in August was 5.5 percent, while the national rate in August and September was 5.4 percent.

But Missouri's rate is still slightly lower than it was in September 2003, and the state's job creation numbers are rising.

Locally, Cape Girardeau County actually saw a drop in its unemployment rate from 4.4 percent in August to 3.9 percent last month, adding more than 300 jobs.

Paul Reichart, research analyst with the Missouri Department of Economic Development said the county's drop is not unusual. He said the county rate always drops from August to September because of the beginning of the fall semester at Southeast Missouri State University.

Perry County also saw a drop in its unemployment from 3.2 percent to 3.0 percent. Meanwhile, Bollinger County saw an increase in its unemployment similar to that of the state's (5.7 percent to 5.8 percent). Scott County held even at 6.5 percent.

The state added 10,400 jobs from August to September, the third-largest increase in the country, according to nonfarm, seasonally adjusted payroll data from the federal Labor Department. Neighboring Kansas was tops with 12,400. Missouri's September job total, 2,718,800, also was up 38,000 from a year earlier.

Government jobs, which includes public schools, accounted for much of the increase from August to September, while the number of jobs in the transportation and construction industries also rose.

At 430,900, government payroll rose 11,100 from August. But it was also the only industry tracked in the state that fell compared to a year ago, down about 900 jobs.

Construction jobs were at 135,600 in September, up 2,200 from a month earlier and 3,300 from a year earlier.

Manufacturing, health and education and hospitality industries reported drops for the month but increases for the year.

Health and education services was easily the industry with the largest gain from September 2003. With 364,300 jobs, it was up 12,900 from a year earlier. It was also the industry that lost the most jobs from August to September, a decline of 7,300.

Staff reporter Tony Rehagen contributed to this report.