The official count on area unemployment, of course, is delivered monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with a nudge from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

The raw numbers crunched by the BLS (based on state and regional jobless data) is refined by the Fed (which adjusts the monthly figures to account for seasonal employment.

Last week for instance, Fed economists took the BLS’ St. Louis Metropolitan area unemployment figures (9.9 percent) and determined the true rate of joblessness in the region is now 10.2 percent. Ouch.

As the reporter assigned to employment issues, I have another — strictly unscientific — method of measuring the state of the local job scene: The attendance at two primary support groups for displaced workers: Businesspersons Between Jobs and the Go! Network.

Based on what I’ve seen at meetings of the two groups over the few weeks, I’d say off-hand that the state of unemployment in St. Louis is a lot better than it was through the nine months of the year. But it’s a far cry from acceptable.

The 140 people who showed up for BBJ’s weekly get together this morning for instance, was a big improvement over the 200+ who came out for meetings during the first months of 2009. Even more encouraging was the roll call of those no longer part of the ranks due to job offers. Five people made the list today.

My last visit to the Go! Network was equally encouraging. Though the auditorium was close to full, it was nothing compared to the SRO crowds that turned out earlier this year.

BBJ meets each Monday, at 9 a.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin.

The Go! Network convenes each Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the St. Patrick Center in downtown St. Louis.