Submitted by

Beth Farrah, SMT Writer

Jefferson City, Missouri – Gov. Jay Nixon says the April jobs report released today shows Missouri’s economy continues its momentum in the right direction. The April jobs report showed that Missouri employers created more than 12,000 new jobs during the month, while the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.6 percent, lower than the U.S. unemployment rate for the 44th consecutive month.

The Governor also said the gain in tech industry jobs – highlighted in a report released today from the TechAmerica Foundation – demonstrates how the technology and science sectors continue to grow in the Show-Me State, with Missouri posting the third highest percentage increase in tech industry jobs last year in the nation.

“We continue to see the strong, positive indicators for our economy, both in the jobs report and in this national tech industry study,” Gov. Nixon said. “Those indicators can be seen in announcements by companies as large as Monsanto, Ford and IBM, and in the growth of small businesses in towns across the state. We’ve been successful in fostering a stable, pro-business economy that is helping companies of all sizes invest in our state, create jobs for our outstanding workforce, and ensure that Missouri remains a place attractive to live and work.”