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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2006
Missouri’s Economy Moving Forward; Unemployment Claims Filed Drop Again
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri has experienced another month of declining initial and weekly unemployment insurance claims filed by unemployed workers. According to a report from the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Division of Employment Security, fewer Missourians filed initial and weekly unemployment insurance claims in April.
In April 2006, the number of initial unemployment claims filed was 22,172, a decrease of 12 percent from 25,191 claims filed in April 2005. For the same period, 169,638 weekly claims were filed, down 13 percent from last year’s figure of 195,307. Over the past 12 months, the number of initial unemployment claims decreased from 423,985 to 389,051, or eight percent. The number of weekly unemployment claims dropped 16 percent, from 3,143,666 to 2,656,146.
“Governor Blunt has made creating jobs one of the top priorities of his administration,” said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “Since the Governor took office last year, over 47,000 new jobs have been created. This has contributed to the decline in filing of unemployment claims the state has experienced over the past year.”
The unemployment rate dropped in nearly ever part of the state in March according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The unemployment rate in April was 4.6 percent, slightly below the national unemployment rate of 4.7 percent.
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 by phone or via the Internet at www.ui.dolir.mo.gov.
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· P.O. Box 504 · Jefferson City, MO
65102-0504
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