The unemployment rate increased by a marginal percentage point between the months of February and March in Pearl River County.

Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 39th out of 82 counties in Mississippi during March.

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Pearl River County’s unemployment rate for March was 5 percent, which is an increase of a tenth of a percentage point from February’s revised rate of 4.9 percent. In March of 2016, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in the county.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 5 percent, a decrease from February’s revised rate of 5.2 percent. In March of 2016, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent.

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 4.5 percent, a slight decrease from previous the month’s rate of 4.7 percent.

A year ago in March, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5 percent.

The release states that available Mississippi’s civilian labor force, defined as those who have or are seeking employment, increased by 4,800 between the months of February and March.

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 March was 4.6 percent, the same as the previous month’s rate, the report states.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for March 2016 was 5.6 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for March was 4.6 percent, reflecting a decrease from previous month’s rate of 4.9. In March of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 5.1 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 30 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average.

Rankin County and Union County reported the lowest unemployment with 3.2 percent. DeSoto, Lamar, Lee, Pontotoc and Scott Counties counties also reported a low unemployment rate, 3.5 percent.

Issaquena County reported the highest unemployment for March at 15.6 percent followed by Jefferson County at 13.8 percent.

Sectors reporting the most employment increases during March included leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and educational and health services.