Missouri unemployment lowest it has been since 2000

(From the Department of Economic Development)

Employment in Missouri grew by 3,300 jobs in September, and the state’s unemployment rate edged down another tenth of a point to 3.2 percent, the lowest it has been since 2000.

Nonfarm payroll employment in Missouri increased by 3,300 jobs in September, on a seasonally adjusted basis. With an upward revision of 1,800 in the August data, non-farm payrolls have grown by 6,100 jobs since July.

In September, employment grew in durable goods manufacturing (+2,200); construction (+1,300); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+1,200); and accommodation and food services (+1,200).

September’s job gains helped push the over-the-year growth figure up to 39,300 for September, an increase of 1.4 percent from year-earlier employment.

Over-the-year job growth was noted in most reported industries:

professional and business services (+11,500)
health care and social assistance (+9,800)
durable goods manufacturing (+6,200)
accommodation and food services (+4,500)
financial activities (+2,300)

At 3.2 percent, Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is now 0.4 points lower than it was a year ago and is at its lowest level since January 2000, when the rate was 3.1 percent.

The state’s rate is half a percentage point lower than the comparable U.S. rate and has been lower than the national rate for 41 consecutive months.

Missouri’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate for September was 2.6 percent; the comparable U.S. figure was 3.6 percent.