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

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

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate in Pearl River County during the month of May was 5.2 percent, a slight increase from April’s revised rate of 4.3 percent. In May of 2017, the unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in the county.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.7 percent, one tenth of a percent increase from April’s revised rate.

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

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 3.8 percent, an increase from the previous month’s rate of 3.7 percent.

In May of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 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 May was 5.1 percent, an increase from April’s rate of 4.2, the report states.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for May 2017 was 5.4 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for May was 3.6 percent, a decrease from the previous month’s rate of 3.7. In May of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was also 4.1 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 27 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted 4.2 percent average.

Rankin County reported the lowest unemployment during May with 3.7 percent with Union County following closely behind with a rate of 3.8 percent.

Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 12.8 percent, with Holmes County reporting 9.8 percent.