Missouri Releases March Jobs Report

Missouri’s Jobs Report indicated a slight decrease in Missouri’s unemployment rate in March.

Missouri’s non-farm payroll employment increased by 2,300 jobs in March. That indicated a one-tenth of a percentage point drop. Private industry employment increased by 2,100 jobs. Government employment increased by 200 jobs. Missouri’s not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was now down 2.5 percent.

Goods-producing industries increased by 700 jobs over the month. Mining, logging, and construction gained 400 jobs. Manufacturing gained 300 jobs. Private service-providing industries were also up by 1,400 jobs. That employment was led by leisure and hospitality with 2,800 jobs. Professional and business services were higher by 2,500 jobs. Employment decreases were experienced in private education and health services. That category was down by 1,600 jobs. There were other drops in trade, transportation, and utilities, and information. .

Missouri’s unemployment rate is about in line with the March 2022 figure.

The not-seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in March.

Missouri’s labor force participation rate was 62.9 percent in March 2023, three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri’s employment-population ratio was 61.4 percent in March 2023, one percentage point higher than the national rate of 60.4 percent.