Unemployment Rate Drops In Every Metro Area in State

With jobless rates falling in every metropolitan area across Missouri, the labor market is showing signs of improvement, the Missouri Journal reported.

The unemployment rate in April dropped in each of the state’s eight metro areas compared to the previous month, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the St. Louis area, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.4 percent in April compared to 8.4 percent the month before.

The jobless rate fell to 6.6 percent during April throughout the Kansas City area, down from 7.6 percent during March.

In the Springfield metro area, the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent during April compared to 7.1 percent in March.

Continuing with the largest to the smallest metro areas across Missouri, the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent from 5.2 percent in Columbia, dropped to 6.1 percent from 6.8 percent in Joplin, declined to 5.6 percent from 6.4 percent in Jefferson City, fell to 5.8 percent from 6.6 percent in St. Joseph, and fell to 6.3 percent from 7.2 percent in Cape Girardeau.

The unemployment rate across the state inched lower to 7.3 percent during April compared to 7.4 percent in March, according to data released earlier this month by the federal statistical agency.

As Missouri Journal reported, more people in the state started jobs in April than left the labor force for the first time this year. To be counted as unemployed, a person must be actively seeking work.

In the metro areas, the labor force climbed in Kansas City, Joplin and Jefferson City, while staying even in Springfield and Cape Girardeau. The labor force fell in St. Louis, Columbia and St. Joseph.