unemployment

  Missouri representatives are closer to limiting the length of jobless benefits to as few as 13 weeks, based on the overall rate of unemployment in the state.

The Missouri House gave initial approval to a measure linking weeks of benefits for fired employees to the state's unemployment rate Tuesday.

Missouri's unemployment has fallen again and now is at its lowest point in almost seven years.

The state Department of Economic Development on Tuesday released data showing the seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to 5.4 percent in December, its lowest rate since April 2008.

Unemployment has continued to drop slightly in recent months, from 5.9 percent in October to 5.6 percent in November.

Dozens of new Missouri laws are taking effect, including ones that could make it harder for some fired employees to collect unemployment benefits and easier for high rollers to bet big bucks at casinos.

Thursday marked the standard effective date for laws that were passed during annual legislative session.

But some of this year's most high-profile measures contained clauses delaying their effect until future years, including an income tax cut and a rewrite of the state's criminal laws.

Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that would link the duration of jobless benefits to the state's unemployment rate.

Workers who lose their jobs currently can collect unemployment benefits for 20 weeks. Under the bill, 20 weeks of benefits would be available if the state's average unemployment rate is at least 9 percent.

The maximum duration of jobless benefits would decrease one week for each one-half percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. The minimum duration would be 13 weeks when the jobless rate is less than 6 percent.

  Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to legislation that could make it harder for people to collect unemployment benefits after being fired for repeated absences or other alleged misconduct.

The House passed the bill Tuesday by a 107-45 vote. Because it already had cleared the Senate, the measure now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon.

Missouri's unemployment rate increased in March, though the size of payrolls also grew.

Missouri senators have given preliminary approval to legislation that would tie the amount of weeks a person can receive unemployment insurance to the state's jobless rate.

Republican lawmakers are trying again to limit the ability of Missouri workers to collect unemployment benefits after being fired for alleged misconduct.

Missouri payrolls grew in January while the state's unemployment remained unchanged at 6 percent.

Newly released figures show Missouri's unemployment rate declined in September and October and now stands at 6.5 percent.

The state Department of Economic Development released employment figures Tuesday. The two months were combined in the same report because of the partial federal government shutdown in October.

Payrolls in September declined by 5,500 jobs, including a drop of 3,700 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector. Trade, transportation and utilities increased by 3,300 jobs.

Legislation awaiting action by Gov. Jay Nixon seeks to comply with federal mandates for Missouri's unemployment benefits system.

The measure also could make it more difficult for workers to receive jobless benefits if they are let go after an unapproved absence or if they knowingly violate a company rule.

For the month of April, Missouri employers added more than 12,000 new jobs while the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.6 percent.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) has introduced a new bill that's meant to make it easier for unemployed workers to go back to school. 

Davis said currently unemployed workers risk losing their unemployment benefits if they go to a university or community college to retrain for a new career.

To help close the loophole, Davis said the new bill, called the Opportunity KNOCKS Act, would expand the definition of what constitutes a training program.

Clients of the Career Center in Moberly, Mo. may have to travel as far as Columbia to meet their unemployment needs if the center closes as scheduled later this month.

Missouri's unemployment rate inched up slightly in February although the state also posted gains in the number of jobs.

Figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Economic Development show Missouri's unemployment rate was 6.7 percent last month, up one-tenth of a percentage point from January.

Seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll rose by 3,900 jobs in February, with gains in the construction industry offset partially by loses in food services.

Missouri’s unemployment rate is now at its lowest point in four years.

November’s jobless rate is at 6.7 percent, down from 6.9 percent in October.  At the same time, though, the state lost 6,800 non-farm jobs last month.  John Fougere is with the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

“There’ll be blips from time to time, but we never focus on any one month of data when it comes to the number of jobs gained or lost, but instead the overall trend," Fougere said.  "Right now the overall trend of Missouri’s economy appears to be positive.”

Missouri added about 6,000 jobs in April as its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down slightly.

Figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Economic Development also show that Missouri added more jobs in March than originally thought. The March job growth was revised upward from 4,800 to 6,800 new jobs.

Missouri's unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point in April to 7.3 percent. The department said that is the lowest level in 40 months.

The national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in April.

About 20 supporters of the post office rallied in downtown Columbia Thursday.  Gathering outside Senator Claire McCaskill's office, supporters held banners and flyers opposing Senate bill 1789, which would cut funding to the U.S. Postal Service. They say a cut from 6 days to 5 days in service will slow down many deliveries. Eale Breedlove, a 30 year veteran of the postal service, says it could also put many veterans out of a job.

A decrease in the percent of Missourians who are unemployed has led to the cancellation of the extended benefits unemployment program.

Missouri ‘s unemployment rate fell by half a point to 7.5 percent in January - the lowest level in over 3 years, according to the latest state report.