Missouri payrolls added 7,200 jobs in March, while the state unemployment rate remain mostly unchanged, according to data released today by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

The 7,200 increase tied for the largest one month increase in employment in the state since 2007.

Missouri's unemployment rate rose to 9.5 percent, up by a tenth of a point from the February figure, on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted rate remained unchanged from February's rate of 10.2 percent. In comparison, the U.S. rates for March were 9.7 seasonally-adjusted and 10.2 not-seasonally-adjusted.

Construction employment rebounded in March, increasing by 4,100 jobs.

Among Missouri's metropolitan areas, St. Louis added 5,100 jobs on a seasonally-adjusted basis, while other areas were largely unchanged for March.