During the month of March, the number of unemployment claims in the state of Mississippi increased significantly, but the claims did not affect the rate for that month.
Mississippi’s Department of Employment Security estimates that slightly more than 60,000 claims were submitted in March. The month before, less than 5,000 claims were submitted.
Pearl River County’s unemployment rate for March was slightly lower than the statewide-unadjusted average during the month of March of this year. During that month, Pearl River County’s rate tied with two other counties for 17th in the state, reporting a percentage of 4.8. The statewide unadjusted average was 5 percent, according to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security this week.
Pearl River County’s revised unemployment rate for February was 4.8 percent. In March of 2019, the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in the county.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 5.3 percent, slightly more than February’s revised rate of 5.4 percent.
In March of 2019, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was also 5.3 percent.
Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 4.4 percent, an increase from the previous month’s rate of 3.5.
In March of last year, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent.
Seasonally adjusted rates take annual patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and other occurrences that affect employment rates into account. Only nationwide and statewide percentages are adjusted.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for March was 5 percent, a decrease of one tenth of a point when compared to February’s rate of 5.1, the report states.
Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for March 2019 was 5.1 percent.
Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate for March was 4.5 percent, a slight decrease over the month from February’s rate of 3.8 percent. In March of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 3.9 percent.
During the month of March, 27 of Mississippi’s 82 counties reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average of 5 percent.
Rankin County reported the lowest unemployment rate during March of 3.7 percent with Lamar County, Lafayette County, Pontotoc County and Union County close behind with a rate of 4 percent.
Jefferson County reported the highest rate, at 12.5 percent, with Humphreys County reporting a rate of 10.2 percent.