Missouri's unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.7 percent last month while the economy lost several thousand jobs.
The state Department of Economic Development released data this week showing the seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased from 5.6 percent in March.
Unemployment dropped to 5.4 percent in December — its lowest rate since April 2008. That rate has increased slightly since January, although the jobless rate in April still was slightly lower than at the same time last year.
Data show Missouri also lost about 5,700 jobs in April.