Missouri employers added 2,100 jobs in August 2026, pushing nonfarm payroll employment to 3,015,700 and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate down to 3.5 percent. In July it was a revised 3.6 percent. A year earlier it stood at 4 percent.
The number of unemployed Missourians fell by 1,122 to 112,415, from 113,537 in July. The rate without seasonal adjustment held at 3.9 percent, against 4.3 percent nationally.
Where the month’s jobs came from
Private employers did the hiring, adding 2,400 jobs while government shed 300. Goods-producing industries gained 1,200, though that hid a split: mining, logging and construction rose by 2,200 while manufacturing lost 1,000. Private service-providing industries added another 1,200.
Trade, transportation and utilities led the service side with 1,100. Other services added 600, financial activities and leisure and hospitality 200 each, and private education and health services 100. Information fell by 700 and professional and business services by 300.
The government drop of 300 was spread evenly, with local, state and federal each down 100.
The year in view
Since August 2025 the state has added 34,100 jobs. Private education and health services and leisure and hospitality each contributed 9,100, followed by mining, logging and construction at 8,900. Trade, transportation and utilities and professional and business services gained 4,700 apiece, financial activities 400 and information 100. Manufacturing lost 500 jobs and other services 400.
Government employment is down 2,000 over the year. Federal jobs fell by 4,200, while local government added 1,900 and state government 300.
Against national figures, Missouri looks strong. Its 3.5 percent seasonally adjusted rate compares with 4.1 percent nationwide, and it has been at or below the national rate for more than 11 years. Labor force participation was 63.3 percent, versus 61.6 percent nationally, and the employment-population ratio was 61 percent, versus 59.1 percent.
