For Immediate Release

Release Date: 06-15-09

JEFFERSON CITY– The state of Missouri’s job losses moderated in May, but the state’s unemployment rate resumed its climb following a decrease in April, according to data released today by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). The state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased by nine-tenths of a point from 8.1 percent in April to 9.0 in May. Approximately 272,000 Missourians were estimated to have been jobless during the month of May.

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 3,700 jobs in May, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, which was the smallest monthly decrease since employment began to drop sharply last November. Job losses were concentrated in manufacturing (-3,700) and construction (-1,600), which were partly offset by gains in health care and social assistance (2,000) and local government (900). Most other reported industry groups showed little change over the month, with about equal gains as losses.

Over the past year, employment has decreased by 74,300 jobs, or 2.7 percent. The main exceptions to the downward trend over the year have been private educational services (2,500), health care and social assistance (6,000), federal government (2,700) and local government (3,300).

April’s 0.6 point decrease in unemployment now appears anomalous, with the May increase part of an upward trend dating back to mid-2008. The state’s May rate of 9.0 compared to a U.S. rate of 9.4 percent for the month. On a not seasonally-adjusted basis, the state’s unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in May, up from 7.7 in April but down from the 9.1 percent level reached in February and March.

Nonfarm payroll employment in May was down in St. Louis, up in Kansas City, and little changed in the state’s other metropolitan areas. Seasonally-adjusted employment decreased by 4,100 in St. Louis, with an automobile industry layoff, a cutback of federal employees following the end of some pre-2010 Census activities, and smaller-than-usual seasonal increases in a number of industries. In Kansas City, small gains were spread across a number of industries, with no large over-the-month decreases.

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