State unemployment climbs to 9 percent

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's unemployment rate jumped to 9 percent in May as the state lost 3,700 jobs more.

The state jobless rate in May climbed by nearly a full percentage point after an April decline to 8.1 percent. The May increase is one of the highest monthly jumps in the past three decades.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development said Monday that it appears April's decline was an anomaly and that the unemployment rate is continuing an upward trend.

Payroll figures released by the department show that the manufacturing sector lost 3,700 jobs in May while construction dipped by 1,600. But the health care and social assistance sector added 2,000 jobs and local government employment climbed by 900.