Unemployment rate grows slightly

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's unemployment rate in November increased to a seasonally adjusted 4.7 percent in what a top state official called "recession-like" employment conditions.

Last month's unemployment rate jumped two-tenths of a point over October, the Missouri Department of Economic Development reported Thursday. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.3 percent.

Regionally, Cape Girardeau County had an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent; Perry County was at 2.9 percent; Scott County was at 4.6 percent; and Bollinger County's rate was 8 percent.

More than 34,000 more Missourians were out of work last month than at the same time a year ago, the department said.

Joe Driskill, director of the state Department of Economic Development, said the current unemployment rates are "recession-like."

"Fortunately, our unemployment rate is still running well below the national average," he said. "We are very hopeful economic conditions will begin improving next year and reverse the rise in unemployment."

A slowing economy earlier this year followed by the Sept. 11 attacks has led state officials to cut nearly $600 million from the current state budget.

More than 2.7 million Missourians had jobs in November. Manufacturing jobs increased by 2,500 jobs while construction unemployment fell by 3,700 jobs between October and November.

Nodaway County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.2 percent, followed by Boone County at 1.7 percent, Mercer County with 1.8 percent and Atchison County at 1.9 percent.

Douglas County had the highest state unemployment rate at 11.2 percent followed by Reynolds County at 11 percent, Linn County at 10.7 percent at Wayne County at 10.3 percent.

In other economic news, the state Department of Revenue reported Thursday that general revenue collections last month increased by 1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Sales and use tax collections were up 5.2 percent in November while individual income tax collections were up 2.6 percent. Corporate income tax collections increased 57.3 percent in November.