Missouri’s labor market experienced some shifts in August 2025, with nonfarm payroll employment decreasing by 5,900 jobs compared to July. While the overall unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent, changes in both private industry and government employment paint a more complex picture of the state’s workforce.
Key Highlights from the August 2025 Jobs Report
- Total Jobs: 3,021,800 nonfarm payroll jobs in Missouri.
- Monthly Change: Down 5,900 jobs from July 2025.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (unchanged from July, up from 3.7% a year ago).
- Yearly Change: +33,900 jobs since August 2024.
Employment Trends by Industry
In August, Missouri saw both losses and gains across major sectors:
- Goods-Producing Industries: Up 800 jobs. Mining, logging, and construction added 1,300 jobs, while manufacturing declined by 500.
- Private Service-Providing Industries: Down 3,700 jobs overall.
- Losses: Private education and health services (-4,100), professional and business services (-2,700), and trade, transportation, and utilities (-500).
- Gains: Leisure and hospitality (+2,100), information (+1,200), other services (+200), and financial activities (+100).
- Government Employment: Down 3,000 jobs, with the biggest drop at the local level (-2,700).
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Looking year-over-year, Missouri’s job market still shows growth of 33,900 jobs since August 2024, led by:
- Private education and health services (+19,600).
- Leisure and hospitality (+11,200).
- Construction (+4,900).
However, sectors such as professional and business services (-7,300) and trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,700) experienced losses.
Missouri’s Unemployment Rate vs. the Nation
- Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate: 4.1%.
- National rate: 4.3%.
- Missouri has remained at or below the national unemployment rate for more than a decade.
On the not-seasonally-adjusted side, Missouri’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.5% in August, down from 4.7% in July.
To view the full August 2025 Missouri Job Report, click here.
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