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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2006
Missouri’s Low Unemployment Rate Contributes to Decline in Unemployment Claims Filed
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri has experienced another month of declining initial and continued 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 June.
In June 2006, the number of initial unemployment claims filed was 28,318, a decrease of five percent from 29,873 claims filed in June 2005. For the same period, 191,666 weekly claims were filed, down 17 percent from last year’s figure of 229,605. Over the past 12 months, the number of initial unemployment claims decreased from 429,976 to 391,833, or nine percent. The number of weekly unemployment claims dropped 15 percent, from 3,111,761 to 2,659,166.
“We are pleased with the substantial gains Missouri has experienced in job growth since Governor Blunt took office,” said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “Strong economic conditions certainly affect the job market and influence the number of unemployment claims we receive.”
The state’s unemployment rate stands strong at 4.7 percent in June and over 40,000 new jobs have been added over the last year and a half according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
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 at (800) 320-2519 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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