Blog

MO ranks dead last among neighbors in key economic categories

July 26, 2012

Nixon suggests comparing MO economic figures with other states

Over the past year, Jay Nixon has desperately attempted to spin Missouri’s economic figures to make it seem like Missouri is “heading in the right direction.”  Despite his optimism, we have continued to see dismal economic report after dismal economic report.  Most recently, we learned that 4,000 jobs were lost and 12,000 people left the labor force in June.

Asked yesterday about these figures, Nixon suggested that people compare Missouri’s economic statistics to those of other states—so we did, and Missouri does not compare favorably:

• 33,228 fewer Missourians are employed today than when Jay Nixon took office, a decline of 1.2%—worse than all 8 of our neighboring states.
• Since Nixon took office, our labor force has shrunk by 87,598—a stunning 2.8% decline, once again ranking Missouri dead last among our neighbors.

(Note: download the neighboring state comparison.)

• Earlier this year, the Democratic Governors Association admitted that Missouri ranks 49^th in the nation in job creation.

“Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Jay Nixon continues to claim that Missouri’s economy has turned the corner,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “The truth is: under Jay Nixon, Missouri’s economy continues to struggle.  Fewer Missourians are working, and more discouraged Missourians have given up even looking for jobs.”