Employment in Missouri grew by 6,600 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7 percent.
For comparison, the seasonally adjusted U.S. rate was 4.1 percent in February, and the not-adjusted rate was 4.4. Missouri’s seasonally adjusted rate has been lower than the comparable U.S. rate for 34 straight months.
Nonfarm payroll employment reached 2,891,300 in February, as most industry groups grew over the month. The largest increase was in administrative, support and waste management services, which grew by 3,600 jobs. Retail trade employment was up by 1,700, while financial activities and health care and social assistance each added 1,100 jobs.
Over the past year, Missouri employers added 27,300 jobs, on net, a gain of 1.0 percent. This growth was concentrated in the private service-providing sectors. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 9,000 jobs over the year, while employment in health care and social assistance grew by 8,400. Administrative, support and waste management services employment was up by 6,400 jobs, while financial activities added 3,500. In the goods-producing sector, durable goods manufacturing employment was up 5,200 jobs, but construction employment decreased by 4,000.
Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in February, the same as in January.
Neither the total employment figure nor the number unemployed changed significantly from their January levels.
For the full labor report featuring industries that experienced employment gains and losses over the month click here.