93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Boone County’s unemployment rate increased in January to three percent, according to Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) executive vice president Bernie Andrews.
Mr. Andrews briefed business leaders and elected officials at the recent REDI board meeting, saying the January rate is up 0.9 percent and that it’s the first time the rate has been at least three percent since January 2022. The increase surprised several of the business leaders in the room, who have had a difficult time finding employees.
The University of Missouri and MU Health Care remain the top two largest employers in Boone County, with 8,709 and 5,092 employees respectively. That’s according to the latest 2023 REDI statistics. Joe Machens Dealerships are now the 10th-largest employer in Boone County, according to those statistics.
