JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A new report released Friday showed that after 7,700 Missourians lost their jobs last month, the state’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 6.4 percent — the highest mark in at least a decade. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are more Missourians out of work now (192,892) than at any point in time since 1984.

The Democratic candidate for Governor, Attorney General Jay Nixon, today issued the following statement:

Clearly, Missouri’s economy is quickly moving in the wrong direction. Another 7,700 of our friends and neighbors lost their jobs last month, and folks who still have jobs have seen their wages stagnate. Meanwhile, gas prices continue to skyrocket, health care is virtually unaffordable, and the same amount of food costs a whole lot more. Many families across our state simply don’t know how they’ll pay next month’s bills. Needless to say, Missouri families are ready for change. 

“I believe we must turn Missouri’s economy around by investing our state’s biggest asset — its hardworking people. That means making sure that middle-class Missourians have an opportunity to get a four-year degree and graduate debt free. We must invest in job-training programs to make sure that our workers have the skills needed to compete in a 21st-Century economy. We need to embrace, not fear, science and technology to create the jobs of the future. By helping small businesses expand, we’ll put people back to work and reinvigorate Main Streets across Missouri. And we must hold the line on taxes — and provide additional relief to Missourians who need it most.

“The reckless economic policies coming out of Washington these past few years have created record deficits and caused thousands of American jobs to go overseas. The last thing we need is a Governor who will bring those failed economic policies from Washington back here to Missouri. It’s time for a change.”