Unemployment still down in county, state
Published 7:00 am Friday, December 28, 2018
The unemployment rate within Pearl River County was only one tenth of a percentage point higher than the statewide-unadjusted average for the month of November.
Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was tied with six other counties in the state for rank of 27th out of 82 counties in Mississippi during November. All six counties had an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent.
According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Pearl River County’s rating showed a one tenth of a point decrease from October’s revised rate of 4.3 percent. In November of 2017, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in the county.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 4.7 percent, the same as October’s revised rate.
In November of 2017, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was 3.7 percent, the same as the previous month’s rate.
In November of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent.
Seasonally adjusted rates factor in 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 4.1 percent, decreasing from October’s rate of 4.2, the report states.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for November 2017 was 4.3 percent.
Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for November was 3.5 percent, also the same as the previous month’s rate. In November of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 3.9 percent.
Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 26 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted 4.1 percent average.
Rankin County reported the lowest unemployment during November with 3.1 percent with Lamar County, Madison County and Union County following closely behind with a rate of 3.2 percent.
Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 9.4 percent, with Issaquena County reporting 8.1 percent.