The unemployment rate in Pearl River County continues to decline, in line with the statewide average.

Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 23rd out of 82 counties in Mississippi during March.

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate in Pearl River County during the month of March was 4.2 percent, a decrease from February’s revised rate of 4.3 percent. In March of 2017, the unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in the county.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 4.5 percent, the same as February’s revised rate. According to the release, March’s rate continues the trend of being the lowest rate the state has seen since March of 1976, when the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping records.

In March of 2017, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent.

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

In March of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.5 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 March was 4.3 percent, down from February’s rate of 4.5, the report states.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for March 2017 was 5.1 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for March was 4.1 percent, a decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.4. In March of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 4.6 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 31 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted 4.3 percent average.

Rankin County reported the lowest unemployment during March 2017 with 3 percent with Union County following closely behind with a rate of 3.1 percent.

Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 12.6 percent, with Issaquena County reporting 10.8 percent.