Unemployment Trends Up for Third Month

For the third month in a row, Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has increased. In December, the rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point, rising to 2.8 percent from the revised November 2022 rate of 2.7 percent. Missouri’s October rate increased to 2.6 percent from 2.4 percent in September.

The December 2022 rate was 1.1 percentage point lower than the December 2021 rate of 3.9 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 84,553 in December 2022, up by 1,528 from November's 83,025. 

The national unemployment rate decreased from 3.6 in November 2022 to 3.5 in December 2022. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for the last five years.   

Goods-producing industries decreased by 100 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 800 jobs and mining, logging, & construction losing 900 jobs. Employment decreased in trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,200 jobs).  Government employment increased by 1,100 jobs over the month with gains in local government (800 jobs); state government (200 jobs); and federal government (100 jobs). 

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story