Surprise! Missouri jobs picture brightens in October

Here’s a shot of good news this cold November morning: Despite the worsening national economy, Missouri actually added jobs in October, according to a report out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics today.

Statewide, Missouri companies added 5,300 jobs between September and October, the second-biggest gain in the country after Texas, according to the data, which was adjusted for seasonal variations. It’s the third straight month of job growth, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development, though the state is still down 14,200 jobs - 0.5 percent - from this time last year.

The state’s unemployment rate of 6.5 percent matched the national average, but was unchanged from September and down from 6.7 percent in August, even as the economic climate worsened.

The St. Louis metropolitan area added 400 jobs, though those numbers are not seasonally adjusted. The region saw growth in trade, transportation and utilities, education and health care and government. But compared to last October, the region was down 11,700 jobs. The St. Louis region has generally lagged both state and national employment figures since the economic downturn began earlier this year.

The news was gloomy across the river. Illinois shed 11,700 jobs in the month, and reported an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent. Since October, 2007, Illinois has lost 19,000 jobs.

Read the full report here.