Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose significantly during October from its low level for the month of September. The state's seasonally adjusted rate of 3.7% is 0.6-percentage points above September's rate, and 0.8-percentage points higher than the October 1999 rate of 2.9%. The sharp rise is attributable to seasonal declines in the amusement, recreation, and business services industries. Despite the rise, the state's labor force and total employment grew from September's levels. The national unemployment rate remained steady at 3.9%. Of Missouri's neighboring states, only Illinois and Kentucky had higher rates, both at 3.9%.
Unemployment levels continue to vary between counties, with the gap widening as winter approaches. Counties with the highest levels of unemployment continue to be clustered in the Lower East central region of the State, though Linn County in North central Missouri posted the highest level at 10.4%. Nodaway (0.9%) and Boone (1.1%) Counties continue to lead the state. Eight counties in Missouri enjoyed unemployment levels below 2% in October, down sharply from twenty counties in September. (County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.)
