JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly in September, state officials said Monday.

The state Department of Economic Development said the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent in August but at the same level as September 2001.

September normally marks a seasonal increase in employment because of the beginning of school, but the increase was less than expected this year, the department said.

Construction employment was down by 6,500 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis while the manufacturing sector lost 3,700 jobs. The business service sector had 2,100 fewer jobs in September. More than 2.6 million Missourians had jobs in September. Boone County had the state's lowest unemployment rate ay 1.9 percent while Linn County had the highest jobless rate at 11.5 percent.

Those figures are not on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Missouri's unadjusted unemployment rate in September was 4.6 percent, down from 4.8 percent in August.

In the last year, Missouri has lost a total of 54,800 jobs. During that time, manufacturing has lost 13,500 jobs and construction another 10,700 positions.

Meanwhile, health services employment jumped 2,200 jobs in the last year while local government, including schools, saw the creation of 2,100 jobs.

------

On the Net

Economic Development Department: http://missouridevelopment.org