Joplin and Missouri unemployment rates saw a slight increase, as revealed by recent monthly figures. The unemployment rate in Joplin was marked at 3.1% in October. This signifies the first time the rate has risen above 3% since the summer of 2021, when unemployment spiked due to the pandemic which began in 2020. The Joplin metropolitan area includes Jasper and Newton counties.

The unemployment rate in Missouri also stood at 3.1% in October, marking the first time it has surpassed 3% since December 2021. These figures are gathered by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. The estimates are seasonally adjusted, which means they account for annual trends, like construction in the summer or holiday hiring in the winter. These adjusted numbers are considered to provide a more accurate picture of unemployment than unadjusted figures.

As of December, which is the most recent month for which data is available, the unemployment rate for the United States stood at 3.9%.