The unemployment rate increased slightly between the months of October and November in Pearl River County.

Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 28th out of 82 counties in Mississippi during November.

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate in Pearl River County during the month of November was 4.6 percent, a decrease from October’s revised rate of 4.5 percent. In November of 2016, the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in the county.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 4.8 percent, a slight decrease from October’s revised rate of 4.9 percent. According to the release, November’s rate is the lowest the state has seen since January of 1976 using the current calculating method.

In November of 2016, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6 percent.

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 4.1 percent, the same as the previous month’s rate.

In November of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.

Seasonally adjusted rates take into account annual 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 November was 4.5 percent, a slight increase from October’s rate of 4.4 percent, the report states.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for November 2016 was 5 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for November was 3.9 percent, the same as the previous month’s rate. In November of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 4.4 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 27 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted 4.5 percent average.

Lamar County reported the lowest unemployment with 3.2 percent with Rankin County reporting a rate of 3.3 percent. 

Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 10.9 percent, with Issaquena County’s 9.3 percent following behind.