There were 17,900 more workers employed in Missouri in August than in July, according to estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That increase ranked Missouri among the nation’s top gainers for the month.

Employment also rose in Kansas, by about 2,000 jobs over the month, the bureau estimated in its latest report.

According to the seasonally adjusted figures, the jobless rate in Missouri was 7.2 percent in August, down from 8.6 percent a year earlier.

There were about 48,000 fewer unemployed people in the state in August 2012 than August 2011.

From August to August, payrolls in Missouri grew from 2,649,700 to 2,656,700 employees.

In Kansas, the August jobless rate this year was 6.2 percent, down from 6.7 percent a year earlier. That estimate indicated a decline of about 8,700 unemployed people in the state.

There were about 1,351,000 employees on payrolls in Kansas in August 2012, compared with 1,336,500 a year earlier.

Both Missouri and Kansas had better jobless rates in August than the national average of 8.1 percent. The national rate was 1 percentage point lower than in August 2011.

Across the nation, the bureau reported, state unemployment rates “were generally little changed” last month, but the trend was in the right direction.

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had lower unemployment rates this August than a year ago.

Over the 12 months, 42 states and the district also showed increases in non-farm employment.