According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for May 2009:
…Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate increases in May. Michigan reported the largest of these (+1.2 percentage points), followed by Rhode Island (+1.0 point) and Missouri and West Virginia (+0.9 point each)…
The percentage unemployment for Missouri, compared to a year ago:
Missouri
May 2008 – 5.8%
May 2009 (preliminary) – 9.0%
Over-the-year rate change (preliminary) – 3.2%
The actual numbers (seasonally adjusted):
Missouri
Civilian labor force (Numbers in thousands)
May 2008 – 3,010.3
March 2009 – 3,014.0
April 2009 – 3,008.4
May 2009 (preliminary) – 3,011.6Unemployed (Numbers in thousands)
May 2008 – 174.1
March 2009 – 261.7
April 2009 – 242.5
May 2009 (preliminary) – 272.4Unemployed (Percent of labor force)
May 2008 – 5.8%
March 2009 – 8.7%
April 2009 – 8.1%
May 2009 (preliminary) – 9.0%
[emphasis added]