According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for August 2009:
…In August, the West reported the highest regional jobless rate, 10.6 percent, followed by the Midwest, 10.0 percent. The Northeast recorded the lowest rate, 9.0 percent, and was the only region with a statistically significant over-the-month rate change (+0.3 percentage point). All four regions experienced significant unemployment rate increases from August 2008, the largest of which was in the West (+4.1 percentage points)…..
The percentage unemployment for Missouri, compared to a year ago:
Missouri
August 2008 – 6.2%
August 2009 (preliminary) – 9.5%
Over-the-year rate change (preliminary) – 3.3%
[emphasis added]
The actual numbers (seasonally adjusted):
Missouri
Civilian labor force (Numbers in thousands)
August 2008 – 3,009.9
June 2009 – 2,995.9
July 2009 – 3,003.3
August 2009 (preliminary) – 3,009.3Unemployed (Numbers in thousands)
August 2008 – 186.9
June 2009 – 278.0
July 2009 – 279.1
August 2009 (preliminary) – 285.7Unemployed (Percent of labor force)
August 2008 – 6.2%
June 2009 – 9.3%
July 2009 – 9.3%
August 2009 (preliminary) – 9.5%
[emphasis added]