Unemployment Numbers Creeping Upward

The state’s unemployment rate crept upward in January, despite the addition of 9,000 jobs. Missouri’s unemployment rate for January was 3.5%, up 1/10th of a percentage point. It marks the 58th consecutive month that the state rate has been equal to or below the corresponding national rate, which currently stands at 3.6%. The non-seasonally adjusted rate grew by a larger amount, increasing from 3.4% in December to 4.2% in January. Both numbers are higher than they were at this time last year, when the adjusted rate was 3.2% and the non-adjusted rate was 3.8%.