The monthly unemployment report from the Department of Economic Development showed unemployment was up in Saline County during February. But the same report also showed the county's labor force and number of people employed were up compared to January.
Like the state as a whole and all but one surrounding county, Saline County's jobless percentage was up in February, at 4.7 percent, a .3 percent increase from January. However, February's jobless rate was slightly below the December 2003 rate, 4.8 percent, and well under the rate reported in February 2003, 5.8 percent.
The DED report also breaks down individual counties' number of unemployed, employed and total labor force. Saline County's February labor force was placed at 11,299 -- about 100 more than in January and about 200 ahead of February 2003. The number of people employed in the county was also up -- 10,773 for February compared to 10,699 in January and 10,432 in February 2003.
Among area counties, Pettis County was the exception to the rule, with its unemployment rate improving in February, down .3 percent to 5.4 percent.
Cooper County had the lowest jobless rate in the area, 4.4 percent, up .9 percent from January. Lafayette County's unemployment rate for February was 6.4 percent, up 1.3 percent from the previous month.
Chariton County had the highest unemployment figure in the area, 7 percent for February, up .6 percent. Carroll County's unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, up .4 percent, and Howard County reported a jobless percentage of 4.6 percent, up .5 percent.
The statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.5 percent, up just .1 percent from January and .3 percent higher than December.
State officials attributed much of February's increase to winter weather and pointed out that fields including construction, transportation and utilities, and leisure and hospitality all reported a significantly lower number of jobs compared to January. Construction alone, the DED said, dropped 8,200 jobs in February.
"These decreases seem to be one-time events that will likely be made up in March and April, as spring weather brings stronger employment to seasonal industries. The underlying improvement in the economy that was evident in earlier data is probably still in place," said Kelvin Simmons, Department of Economic Development director.
Areas reporting job growth in February included professional and business services, up 2,700; manufacturing, 800; information, 600; and financial activities, 300.
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