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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2007
Governor Blunt’s Pro-Jobs Policies Pay Off; Decrease in Unemployment Claims Filed
Jefferson City, MO – The number of initial unemployment claims filed decreased last month according to a report from the state labor department.
In March 2007, the number of initial unemployment claims filed was 27,234, a decrease of four percent from 28,493 claims filed in March 2006. For the same period, 212,319 weekly claims were filed, a slight increase from last year’s figure of 210,581.
“Missouri’s economy continues to thrive,” said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “Governor Blunt’s pro-jobs, pro-growth policies have created thousands of new jobs and have moved the state’s economy forward.”
In March, 10,800 new jobs were created, bringing the total number of new jobs since January 2005 to 93,300. The unemployment rate in March was 4.7 percent, down from 5 percent in February.
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is responsible for providing unemployment benefits to workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. Eligible individuals may qualify for up to 26 weeks of unemployment compensation.
Unemployed Missourians may file for benefits at www.moclaim.com or by contacting the Regional Claims Center in your area Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the following:
Jefferson City (573) 751-9040, Kansas City (816) 889-3101, Springfield (417) 895-6851 and St. Louis (314) 340-4950. If outside the calling area: (800) 320-2519.
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Information and Planning · 421 East Dunklin
· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
573-751-7500 · 573-751-6552 (Fax)
Relay Missouri: 1-800-735-2966 (TDD) 1-800-735-2466 (Voice)