Missouri's unemployment continued to fall through September, reaching a new 2021 low of 3.8 percent.
The state had a 0.2 percent decrease in the unemployment rate, going from 4.0 percent in August to 3.8 percent in September. Missouri's unemployment rate has been falling since June, when it was 4.3 percent.
An estimated 118,110 Missourians were unemployed in September, which is down by 4,992 people from August's estimate of 123,102 unemployed Missourians, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's monthly jobs report.
September's unemployment rate is 1.6 percent lower than the unemployment rate in September 2020.
The state's record unemployment low is 3.1 percent, which was first achieved in August 2018.
Missouri's unemployment is below the national rate, which is also on the decline falling from 5.2 percent in August to 4.8 percent in September.
September's unemployment decline correlates with the employment increases in the state.
Employment grew by 7,500 jobs from August to a total of 2.84 million working Missourians in September.
Service-providing industries had the most employment gains, increasing by 11,000 jobs from August to September.
Professional and business services gained 4,500 jobs, as did trade, transportation and utilities. The leisure and hospitality industry had an increase of 3,100 jobs, and education and health services added 1,500 jobs for the month.
Goods-producing industries, however, lost 3,500 jobs, mostly concentrated in construction and durable good manufacturing.
Approximately 1,100 government jobs were also lost in September.
Although employment is up statewide, numbers declined locally.
Jefferson City's employment for September was 78,300, a decline of 400 jobs since August's 78,700 figure.
State government was the only sector to have a decline locally, dipping from 17,200 jobs in August to 16,900 in September.