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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573)
751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2006
Governor Blunt’s Pro-Jobs Policies Pay Off; Decrease 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 March.
In March 2006, the number of initial unemployment claims filed was 28,493, a decrease of three percent from 29,281 claims filed in March 2005. For the same period, 210,581 continued claims were filed, down 24 percent from last year’s figure of 277,676.
“Missouri’s economy has consistently improved since Governor Blunt took office,” said Katharine Barondeau, acting director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “The growth in new jobs over the past year is good news for Missouri families and our state economy.”
In February, 7,600 jobs were created, bringing the total number of new jobs over the past year to 37,500 according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The unemployment rate in March was 4.5 percent, 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.state.mo.us.
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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)