The unemployment rate increased by half a percentage point between the months of December and January in Pearl River County.
Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 33rd out of 82 counties in Mississippi during January.
According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Pearl River County’s unemployment rate for January was 6.4 percent, which is an increase from December’s revised rate of 6 percent. In January of 2016, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in the county.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 5.5 percent, the same as December’s revised rate of 5.5 percent. In January of 2016, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 4.8 percent, a slight increase from previous the month’s rate of 4.7 percent.
A year ago in January, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent.
Seasonally adjusted rates factor in patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and other occurrences that affect employment rates. Only nationwide and statewide percentages are adjusted.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for January was 6.1 percent, an increase from the previous month’s rate of 5.7 percent, the report states.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for January 2015 was 6.5 percent.
Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for January was 5.1 percent, reflecting an increase from previous month’s rate of 4.5. In January of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 5.3 percent.
Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 28 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average.
Rankin County again reported the lowest unemployment with 4.2 percent. Madison County also reported a favorable unemployment rate, 4.2 percent.
Issaquena County reported the highest unemployment for January at 21.2 percent followed by Jefferson County at 17.6 percent.
Sectors reporting the most employment losses during January included government, leisure and hospitality and construction.