In April 2024, Missouri’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 16,700 jobs, bringing the total to 3,042,600. This increase included 16,400 jobs in the private sector and 300 in government roles. Over the past year, employment grew by 74,900 jobs, with notable gains in private education and health services (22,600 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (15,000 jobs). Despite this growth, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate slightly increased to 3.4%, up from 3.3% in March 2024 and 2.9% in April 2023.

Goods-producing industries added 5,900 jobs, while private service-providing industries gained 10,500 jobs from March to April 2024. Government employment saw a modest increase of 300 jobs. Over the year, government employment grew by 10,600 jobs, with significant increases in local, state, and federal roles.

Missouri’s unemployment rate, at 3.4% in April 2024, remains lower than the national average of 3.9%. The labor force participation rate was 63.3%, and the employment-population ratio was 61.1%, both higher than national figures. The not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for Missouri fell to 3.2% in April 2024 from 3.7% in March 2024.