Unemployment Drops, Local Situation Could Improve

The unemployment rate un-expectedly fell to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent last month, making it the first time the rate has dipped below 8 percent in nearly four years.

"I think it's a boom for us," says Jeff Bendure, services director for JMARK.

JMARK is a local business that specializes in support technology employees there say they've been able to continue to thrive through the economic downfall.

"It's a really big positive because we will be able to gather more people in the doors even more businesses will expand and as they expand their tech needs expand as well that's where we really come into play," Bendure says.

"It will be easier to find jobs going forward, slightly easier," says Dr. Tom Wyrick, Missouri State University economics professor.

While nationally the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent, Springfield's local unemployment rate dropped down to 6.3 percent from 6.7 percent.

"Springfield is blessed in that we have a diverse economy, a lot of advanced manufacturing, the health care sector, our education sector," says Hollie Elliott with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Locally, Springfield's unemployment rate has been below seven percent for five months.

"Our economy here will almost always have a lower unemployment rate ,which is better during a recession," Wyrick says.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national economy added 114,000 workers last month.

"The fact that unemployment is coming down tells us employers a month or two ago started thinking things were getting better but waited to hire and now they are starting to hire," Wyrick says. "It looks like the economy should continue recovering through this year. There's no telling about the future, but it looks like we are on the path to recovery, although it's slim"