JEFFERSON CITY — After two straight months of job growth, Missouri shed nearly 10,000 jobs in November while the jobless rate hit 6.7 percent.
Missouri led the nation in job growth in September and was second highest in October. But those gains were lost in November with the total number employed falling to its lowest mark in more than two years.
According to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hardest hit sectors were manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities.
The trade sector lost 3,700 jobs in November, following up on a 2,800-job decline in October. Manufacturing employment dropped by 2,700 jobs in November.
November's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.7 percent was up two-tenths of a percentage point from October.