Unemployment at 4.2%

Unemployment numbers for May were finalized at 4.2 percent for Laclede County, and now that the unemployment stimulus has expired, that number could change. Brian Thompson President of Lebanon Regional Economic Development said he is hopeful that the current state of job openings will change.

Thompson said recent numbers show that the average wage in Laclede County increased to $18.10 an hour, which could mean the hundreds of vacant jobs will get filled.