Missouri nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 10,600 jobs in September 2026, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment decreased by 10,700 jobs and government employment increased by 100 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 28,400 jobs from September 2025 to September 2026, and the unemployment rate decreased by three-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.9 percent in September 2025 to 3.6 percent in September 2026.
EMPLOYMENT
Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,007,300 in September 2026, down by 10,600 from the revised August 2026 figure. The August 2026 total was revised upward by 2,200 jobs from the preliminary estimate.
Goods-producing industries increased by 600 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 500 jobs and mining, logging, and construction gaining 100 jobs. Private service-providing industries declined by 11,300 jobs between August 2026 and September 2026. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in leisure and hospitality (1,400 jobs), other services (600 jobs), and information (100 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-5,200 jobs); private education and health services (-4,200 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,600 jobs); and financial activities (-1,400 jobs). Total government employment increased by 100 jobs over the month, with an increase in local government (700 jobs) and decreases in state (-500 jobs) and federal government (-100 jobs).
Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 28,400 jobs from September 2025 to September 2026. The largest gains were in leisure and hospitality (13,900 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (8,800 jobs); private education and health services (6,800 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (2,000 jobs); manufacturing (400 jobs); information (100 jobs); and professional and business services (100 jobs). Employment decreased in financial activities (-900 jobs). Government employment decreased by 2,800 jobs over the year, with an increase in local government (1,400 jobs) and decreases in federal (-4,100 jobs) and state government (-100 jobs).
UNEMPLOYMENT
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point in September 2026, increasing to 3.6 percent from the revised August 2026 rate of 3.5 percent. The September 2026 rate was three-tenths of a percentage point lower than the September 2025 rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 113,644 in September 2026, up by 1,229 from the revised August total of 112,415.
The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in September 2026, declining by six-tenths of a percentage point to 3.3 percent from August 2026 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 3.9 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3.5 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for September 2026 was 4.0 percent. Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.3 percent in September 2026, 1.5 percentage points higher than the national rate of 61.8 percent.
Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.1 percent in September 2026, 1.9 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.2 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in September 2026, six-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 11 years.
Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report.