Overall unemployment rate moved up to 4.6% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 8,300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.

Total employment in the St. Louis, MO-IL market declined by 1 jobs in May and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 4.6%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 25 bps over the same time to 5.5%.

  • St. Louis, MO-IL unemployment rate is 90 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 680 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in May versus prior month by 6.7% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
St. Louis, MO-IL Unemployment May 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.6% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 260,200; -2,200
  • Transportation & Utilities: 253,800; -1,300
  • Business Services: 205,400; -300
  • Government: 155,700; +800
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 132,600; +8,300
  • Manufacturing: 112,600; +200
  • Financial Services: 90,500; +700
  • Construction, Mining: 69,900; +1,300
  • Other Jobs: 48,600; +600
  • IT & Development: 25,400; -100
St. Louis, MO-IL Unemployment by Industry May 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 30, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.