County unemployment drops slightly in October
Published 7:00 am Saturday, November 26, 2016
The unemployment rate decreased between the months of September and October in Pearl River County.
Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 33rd out of 82 counties in Mississippi during October.
According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Pearl River County’s unemployment rate for October was 6 percent, which is a decrease from September’s revised rate of 6.1 percent. In October of 2015, the unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in the county.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 5.9 percent, slightly less than September’s revised rate of 6 percent. In October of 2015, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 4.9 percent, also a slight decrease from previous the month’s rate of 5 percent.
A year ago in October, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5 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 October was 5.7 percent, a slight decrease the previous month’s rate of 5.8 percent, the report states.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for October 2015 was 6.2 percent.
Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for October was 4.7 percent, reflecting a slight drop from previous month’s rate of 4.8. In October of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 4.8 percent.
Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 29 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average.
Rankin County again reported the lowest unemployment with 4.1 percent, with DeSoto coming in right behind with a rate of 4.2 percent.
Jefferson County reported the highest unemployment for October at 11.4 percent followed by Claiborne County at 9.9 percent.
Sectors reporting the most employment gains included government, professional and business services and education and health services.