Like most states, Missouri experienced significantly high levels of unemployment during the recession, causing the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund to be depleted. As a result, Missouri and 30 other states turned to the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund to make ends meet. As of August 27th, Missouri has borrowed more than $722 million from the Federal Fund to finance benefits for unemployed Missourians. The amount of this debt is projected to increase to as much as $1.8 billion by 2013.