Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was slightly lower than the statewide-unadjusted average during the month of December. During that month, Pearl River County’s rate tied with two other counties for 20th in the state, reporting a percentage of 5. The statewide unadjusted average was 5.3 percent.
According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security this week, Pearl River County’s revised unemployment rate for November was 5.4 percent. In December of 2018, the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in the county.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 5.7 percent, slightly more than November’s revised rate of 5.6 percent.
In December of 2018, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 3.5 percent, the same as the previous month’s rate.
In December of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 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 December was 5.3 percent, a decrease of two tenths of a point when compared to November’s rate of 5.5, the report states.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for December 2018 was 4.7 percent.
Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for December was 3.4 percent, a slight decrease over the month from November’s rate of 3.5 percent. In December of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 3.7 percent.
During the month of December, 30 of Mississippi’s 82 counties reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average of 5.3 percent.
Lafayette and Rankin counties reported the lowest unemployment rate during December with 3.7 percent with Lamar County close behind with a rate of 3.8 percent.
Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 16.9 percent, with Claiborne County reporting a rate of 11.1 percent.