UNEMPLOYMENT EDGES UPWARD IN CAPE COUNTY DURING JUNE

The unemployment rate for Cape County rose to five percent in June, four-tenths higher than the mark for May. The increase reflects a trend across Missouri as the state unemployment rate jumped from 6.5 to 6.9 percent.

The unemployment rate is determined by the percentage of jobless in the civilian labor force.

Nearly 900 fewer workers in the Cape labor force were employed in June as in May. However, the total workforce declined by almost 800, thus curbing the rise in unemployment.

In May, 1,655 people were jobless in Cape County and the number rose to 1,760 in June.

Total unemployment grew statewide as 187,876 Missourians were jobless. It's an increase of 11,800 in May.

Unemployment also increased in surrounding areas as Bollinger County showed a two-tenths rise to 9.6 percent.

With an increase in job seekers and a decrease in employment, Perry County's unemployment rate grew to 6.2 percent from 5.7 in May. The number of jobless increased from 586 to 650.

In Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties, the June figures reflect a drop in unemployment from a year ago.

More Missourians had jobs in June, 1992 than any other June in state history. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations estimated 2,547,606 people were employed last month. The number represents a 19,700 increase from May.

Employment gains were recorded in retail trade, goods producing, insurance, real estate, and services.

On the down side, total unemployment also climbed upwards as 187,876 Missourians were jobless, up 11,800 from May.

Only seven counties in Missouri have lower unemployment rates than Cape. Shelby County had the state's lowest rate at 3.5 percent. The high mark was recorded by Iron county at 22.3 percent.