State unemployment rate is steady

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's unemployment rate held steady in May as the state added 5,900 jobs compared to the previous month, the state Economic Development Department said Friday.

The seasonally adjusted rate of 5.6 percent was the same as in April, and also the same as it was in May 2004, the department said.

The gain in nonfarm employment brought the state's total jobs to 2,719,500, the department said. The trade, transportation and utilities sectors gained a total of 4,000 jobs, while educational and health services were up a total of 3,800 jobs. Those were partially offset by losses of 1,900 jobs in professional and business services and 1,400 jobs in government.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls grew by 24,100 jobs, or a little less than 1 percent.