Unemployment rate stays flat in St. Francois County

The unemployment rate stayed the same in St. Francois County. The rate was at 8 percent in both November and December. The lowest rate for the year was 7.7 percent in September with the highest at 10.3 percent in February.

Washington County’s unemployment rate went back into the double digits during the last month of 2012.

In December, Washington County’s unemployment rate was 10 percent, up from 9.3 percent in November.

It was far from its 2012 peak at 13.4 percent in February, though. Unemployment was at its lowest in September at 9.2 percent.

Ste. Genevieve’s unemployment rate went up slightly from 6.2 in November to 6.4 percent in December.

Jefferson County’s rate rose from 6.7 percent to 7 percent. Madison County’s rate rose one-tenth of a percentage to 6.5 percent.

Cape Girardeau County’s rate went down slightly from 5.4 to 5.3 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was at 6.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percent from November. The rate was at its lowest in September at 6.3 percent.

Nationwide, unemployment was higher at 7.6 percent, up two-tenths from November.