County's unemployment rate rises to 6 percent

Pettis County’s unemployment rate in January was even with the statewide average — with both rates besting national unemployment figures.

The county’s unemployment rate for January — the most recent figure available — was at 6 percent, up from 5.1 percent in December, said Randall Clark, an analyst with the Missouri Department of Economic Development Economic Research and Information Center.

Of Pettis County’s 21,358-person civilian workforce, 1,275 were unemployed in January, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Clark said January’s rate was the same as the January 2007 rate. During that month, 1,235 of the county’s 20,727-person civilian workforce were unemployed, according to the center.

When not adjusted for the slower winter season, Pettis County is dead even with the state’s 6 percent unemployment rate.
The county and state rates are still higher than the nation’s 5.4 percent unadjusted rate.

Pettis County’s unemployment rate was higher than several neighboring county’s rates, with January unemployment in Johnson and Cooper counties at 5.1 percent, and Saline and Moniteau counties at 5.8 percent, according to the information center.

But it was lower than Lafayette County at 6.4 percent, Henry County at 6.8 percent, Benton County at 8 percent, and Morgan County at 8.7 percent, according to state figures.

Linda Christle, Economic Development Sedalia-Pettis County director, said the county’s unemployment rate likely would drop as the year continues.

“Six isn’t really considered a high unemployment,” she said. Also, the first three months of the year are typically the highest unemployment times for the area.

“These are typically the months — right now — when our manufacturing plants, they’re just starting to cycle up,” she said.

“Every January and February, you’re going to see these layoffs. It’s temporary.”

Christle said having a large labor pool can be beneficial when companies are considering expanding or moving into an area, provided the skills of labor pool fit the need.

Pati Carter, executive director of the Workforce Development Board of Western Missouri Inc., said her organization has noticed more layoffs and closings in its 13-county service area.

“We are providing additional training to more and more people every month,” Carter said.

The organization provides training for unemployed, underemployed and those who have lost jobs due to plant closings or layoffs.

Carter said that since December, Workforce Development has served 324 people who have been laid off from manufacturing companies in the service area — including those from the recent Best Brands plant closing.

— The Associated Press
contributed to this report.