UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN MISSOURI STAY DOWN

More Missourians were working in May, but the gain was less than expected.

Employment grew by about 11,000, raising the number of Missourians employed to 2.86 million. The gain, however, was less than normal for the season, said the Missouri Department of Economic Development, which follows employment trends.

The unemployment rate dropped 0.2 of a percent to 3.5 percent, the best in the past three months.

Manufacturing jobs increased by about 4,500; construction jobs by almost 2,000, and amusement and recreational service jobs by almost 3,000.

There were about 108,300 Missourians were jobless in May.

But employment fell in Southeast Missouri in the first quarter, from 373,410 on Jan. 1, to 370,152 in March. The totals are not in for June, but the work force is expected to dwindle to about 369,00 before recovering in the fall.

3,000 jobs lost

Overall, the work place has declined by about 3,000 jobs in the more than 20 counties in Southeast Missouri. Some of the decline is due to seasonal factors. Some counties have experienced much higher unemployment rates.

Wayne County unemployment was at 10 percent the first quarter while Reynolds, Mississippi, Pemiscot and Dent counties have rates in excess of 7.5 percent.

Throughout the rest of the region, the rates remain lower.

Cape Girardeau and Perry counties remain at less than 4 percent unemployment, at 3.5 and 2.9 percent respectively.

The labor force in several area counties fluctuate from month to month.

Missouri Labor Market statistics show a work force of 37,171 in Cape Girardeau County for May. With 35,876 jobs, the unemployment percentage is 3.5. Five months ago, the work force here was 37,711, up by 540, but 36,533 workers had jobs, for a 3.1 unemployment percentage.

Perry County has had more than 97 percent employment the past three years, averaging 97.3 percent in 2000; 97.8 in 1999 and 99.6 percent in 1998. These percentages are based on a work force ranging from 10,827 to 11,000.

Southern Illinois

Unemployment is greater than a year ago in Southern Illinois where scattered, temporary layoffs have occurred in two sectors, manufacturing and transportation. One layoff, identified as temporary at the time, turned into a plant closure, putting 800 people out of work.

Construction and agriculture have provided steady jobs in Southern Illinois.

Alexander and Pulaski counties, the lower two counties in the state, posted the area's highest unemployment rates at 9.7 and 9.4 percent. They, however, did not have the highest unemployment in the state. No less than eight counties posted two-figure rates.

The Illinois state unemployment rate fell 0.2 percent in May, according to monthly statistics released by Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Construction and service sectors were job growth leaders in metropolitan areas where Chicago had more than 2.6 million people working of a work force of 2.799,050.

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.1 of a percent, from 4.2 in April to 4.1 in May.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN AREA

Unemployment rates for area counties in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, from left, May of 2001, followed by April of 2001, and May of 2000.

Southeast Missouri

County May April May 2000

Bollinger: 5.5 5.3 4.9

Butler: 4.9 4.9 5.1

Cape Girardeau: 3.5 3.3 3.0

Dunklin: 6.2 5.7 4.4

Madison: 6.9 6.3 6.8

Mississippi: 8.0 8.2 4.2

New Madrid: 6.7 6.4 4.7

Pemiscot: 7.9 7.0 6.2

Perry: 2.9 2.8 2.4

Scott: 5.2 5.4 4.7

Ste. Genevieve: 5.0 5.3 4.1

Stoddard: 7.1 5.7 5.7

Missouri: 3.6 3.8 3.2

Southern Illinois

Alexander: 9.7 9.2 7.3.

Pulaski: 9.4 8.5 8.9

Massac: 5.2 5.1 4.7

Union: 4.9 5.6 6.4

Jackson: 3.1 3.2 3.1

Randolph: 5.3 5.3 5.6

Williamson: 4.9 5.5 6.0

Johnson: 5.0 5.6 6.1

Pope: 9.3 8.2 7.8

Illinois: 5.0 4.2 4.1

U.S.: 4.1 4.2 3.9