For Immediate Release

Release Date: 08-18-09

JEFFERSON CITY– Labor market conditions in Missouri leveled off in July, as the state unemployment rate remained unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to data released today by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

The state’s unemployment rate remained at 9.3 percent, with approximately 278,000 Missourians estimated as unemployed. The not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 9.4 percent in July, down a tenth of a point from June. By comparison, the U.S. rates in July were 9.4 seasonally adjusted and 9.7 not seasonally adjusted.

Missouri payroll employment data showed gains in durable goods manufacturing (+3,800) and health care and social assistance (+1,300), while local government (-3,300) and construction (-2,000) showed losses. The increase in manufacturing may reflect the lack of a seasonal decrease that typically occurs in the summer months in the auto industry due to annual model changeover layoffs, while the decrease in local government employment is related to local schools shutting down for the summer. Timing of summer layoffs of school employees varies from year to year, resulting in irregular trends during this time of year.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in St. Louis and Kansas City in July, and was relatively unchanged in other Missouri metropolitan areas.

Kansas City employment was up by 4,500 in July, while the St. Louis figure increased by 3,400. Similar to the manufacturing numbers, these increases mostly resulted from some industries having smaller-than-usual seasonal decreases in July. The not-seasonally adjusted data show motor vehicle manufacturing up by 400 jobs in St. Louis, while Kansas City had an increase of 300 jobs in manufacturing and seasonal decreases in retail trade and local government.

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