Unemployment within Pearl River County between the months of February and March increased slightly.

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, unemployment in the county increased to 7.6 percent, a slight increase from February’s rate of 7.5 percent.

A year ago in March the unemployment rate in Pearl River County was 8.2 percent, the report states.

Unemployment for the state of Mississippi also increased slightly between the two months. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Mississippi for March was 7.6 percent. February’s rate was 7.4 percent. In March of 2013 the state’s adjusted unemployment rate was 9 percent.

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained the same between the two months, 6.7 percent.

A year ago in March the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent.

Seasonally adjusted rates factor in patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and other regular occurrences that affect employment rates. Only nationwide and statewide percentages are adjusted.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for March was 7.9 percent, the report states. The state’s unadjusted rate for February was 7.0 percent.

The unadjusted rate for Mississippi in March 2013 was 7.6 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate in March was 6.8 percent, a slight decrease from February’s rate of 7 percent. In March of 2013 the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 7.6 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 28 reported rates less than the statewide-unadjusted average of 7.9 percent. Rankin County reported the best rate for the month with 4.7 percent. Lamar and Scott counties reported an unemployment rates of 5.4 percent.

Issaquena County reported the highest rate of 17.5 percent while Clay County reported the second highest rate of 17.2 percent.