Mo. unemployment rate hits 8.7 percent as 11,000 jobs are lost

Mo. unemployment rate hits 8.7 percent

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri shed nearly 11,000 jobs last month as the state's unemployment rate also climbed. Job figures released Monday by the state Department of Economic Development show that Missouri's jobless rate in March climbed to 8.7 percent from 8.3 percent in February. The state lost 2,500 construction jobs and 4,800 manufacturing jobs, along with losses in several other sectors. But 1,900 retail trade jobs were added in March. Missouri's unemployment rate has climbed in nine of the last 10 months. The March unemployment rate is the state's highest since December 1983.

-- From staff and wire reports