Missouri unemployment rate down in April

Missouri's unemployment rate dropped from 6.7 percent to 6.6 percent in April, according to a report by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

This decrease created 8,200 more nonfarming-related jobs in April according to the DED's seasonal data report. This report said during April the largest gains were in administrative, support and waste management services jobs.

Approximately 4,000 construction jobs have been added over the past year, with more than half of these occurring in April, according to a news release.

In the construction industry, jobs increased in April by 2,400. Other larger increases were in leisure and hospitality, which added 2,000 jobs in April, and retail trade employment, which is up by 1,900 jobs, the news release said.

Over the past year, jobs in administrative, support and waste management services increased by 9,300, entertainment and recreation added 5,800 jobs, local government increased by 5,400 jobs, accommodation and food services gained 5,200 jobs, construction jobs grew by 4,000 and durable goods manufacturing produced an extra 2,700 jobs, according to the news release. That's a total of 45,000 jobs added to Missouri's economy in the past year.

On the DED's official website, missourieconomy.org, the organization listed that Cape Girardeau County civilian labor force as of March was 38,945 people. This left the employment rate at 36,327 and unemployment being 2,618. The rate for unemployment was then set at 6.7 percent.

For Southeast Missouri, there are 183,089 people working, making the employment rate 169,120, and unemployment 13,969, for an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644