January 2025 Monthly Jobs Report

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 17,200 jobs in January 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment decreased by 18,800 jobs and government employment increased by 1,600 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 10,700 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.5 percent in January 2024 to 3.7 percent in January 2025.

EMPLOYMENT

Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 2,982,800 in January 2025, down by 17,200 from the revised December 2024 figure. The December 2024 total was revised downward by 85,300 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries decreased by 8,600 jobs over the month, primarily due to a decrease of 8,100 jobs in manufacturing. Private service-providing industries declined by 10,200 jobs between December 2024 and January 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries decreased in leisure and hospitality (-3,600 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,700 jobs); information (-1,600 jobs); professional and business services (-1,500 jobs); financial activities (-900 jobs); and other services (-300 jobs). Employment increased in private education and health services (400 jobs). Total government employment increased by 1,600 jobs over the month with increases in state (1,400 jobs) and local government (300 jobs) and a decrease in federal government (-100 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 10,700 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025. Employment gains were in private education and health services (18,400 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (1,300 jobs); other services (900 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (700 jobs); and financial activities (600 jobs). Employment decreased in manufacturing (-9,900 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-5,900 jobs); professional and business services (-4,000 jobs); and information (-2,900 jobs).  Government employment increased by 11,500 jobs over the year, with increases in state (8,600 jobs), local (2,500 jobs), and federal government (400 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT

Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point in January 2025, increasing to 3.7 percent from the revised December 2024 rate of 3.6 percent. The January 2025 rate was two-tenths of a percentage point higher than the January 2024 rate of 3.5 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 115,361 in January 2025, up by 1,366 from the revised December total.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased by 1.2 points in January 2025 to 4.4 percent from the December 2024 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 3.2 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3.9 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for January 2025 was 4.4 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.2 percent in January 2025, six-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 60.9 percent in January 2025, eight-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 60.1 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in January 2025, three-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than nine years.

Annual Revisions for 2024 Data

With the release of January 2025 data, previously released employment and unemployment estimates for Missouri statewide and sub-state areas from both Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and Current Employment Statistics (CES) programs have been revised through the annual revision and benchmarking process. Revised estimates reflect additional data and estimation methods developed over the year, including new population controls from the Census Bureau, updated input data, and reestimation.

Revised data for 2024 show that seasonally adjusted total nonfarm payroll employment averaged lower than reported in the original release for every month. In the original estimates, on net from January 2024 to December 2024, Missouri employment increased by 81,700 jobs. After the revisions process, the state’s employment change from January 2024 to December 2024 was revised to a net gain of 27,900 jobs.

The revision process resulted in Missouri’s civilian labor force revised slightly higher in the first half of the year and slightly lower in the second half of the year. The civilian labor force participation rate revised lower from June to December, decreasing between 0.2 percentage points and 0.7 percentage points monthly. Revised data show Missouri’s civilian labor force participation rate remained between 63.2 and 63.4 percent during 2024, with a rate of 63.2 percent in December. Missouri’s civilian labor force participation rate was above the national rate for the year.

The revision process resulted in Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment to be higher for January to June in 2024 compared to the original estimates. Over the first six months of the year, unemployment increased between 3,424 people and 9,920 people monthly. Missouri’s unemployment was revised lower from July to December. Over the last six months of the year, unemployment decreased between 1,871 people and 6,516 people monthly. During 2024, Missouri’s unemployment increased from revised 108,616 people in January 2024 to 113,995 people in December.

Revisions also resulted in Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to be higher for January to June in 2024 compared to the original estimates. Over the first six months of the year, the unemployment rate increased between 0.1 percentage points and 0.3 percentage points monthly. Missouri’s unemployment rate was revised lower from July to December. Over the last six months of the year, the unemployment decreased between 0.1 percentage points and 0.2 percentage points monthly. December’s revised unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.6 percent. During 2024, Missouri's unemployment rate increased from a revised 3.5 percent in January 2024 to 3.6 percent in December. Missouri’s unemployment rate was below the national rate for the year.

Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report.