July 2026 Monthly Jobs Report

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 8,100 jobs in July 2026, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3.7 percent in June 2026 to 3.6 percent in July 2026. Private industry employment increased by 6,900 jobs and government employment increased by 1,200 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 29,400 jobs from July 2025 to July 2026, and the unemployment rate decreased by four-tenths of a percentage point, from 4 percent in July 2025 to 3.6 percent in July 2026.

EMPLOYMENT

Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,014,900 in July 2026, up by 8,100 from the revised June 2026 figure. The June 2026 total was revised upward by 5,900 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries increased by 400 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 900 jobs and mining, logging, and construction declining by 500 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 6,500 jobs between June 2026 and July 2026. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in private education and health services (2,900 jobs); professional and business services (1,100 jobs); other services (1,000 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (800 jobs); information (400 jobs); and financial activities (400 jobs). Employment decreased in leisure and hospitality (-100 jobs). Total government employment increased by 1,200 jobs over the month, with the increase occurring in local government. Federal and state government employment were unchanged compared to June.

Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 29,400 jobs from July 2025 to July 2026. The largest employment gain was in private education and health services (9,200 jobs), followed by leisure and hospitality (8,900 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (6,900 jobs); professional and business services (5,100 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (3,100 jobs); and information (800 jobs). Employment decreased in manufacturing (-2,800 jobs); other services (-1,200 jobs); and financial activities (-400 jobs). Government employment decreased by 200 jobs over the year, with decreases in federal (-4,200 jobs) and state government (-300 jobs) and an increase in local government (4,300 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT

Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point in July 2026, declining to 3.6 percent from the revised June 2026 rate of 3.7 percent. The July 2026 rate was four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the July 2025 rate of 4 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 113,556 in July 2026, down by 2,797 from June's 116,353.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased in July 2026 by two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.9 percent from June 2026 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 3.7 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 4.5 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for July 2026 was 4.4 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.3 percent in July 2026, 1.9 percentage points higher than the national rate of 61.4 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61 percent in July 2026, 2.1 percentage points higher than the national rate of 58.9 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in July 2026, half of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 11 years.

Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report.