Mississippi’s Employment Situation
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Friday, March 25, 2016
Jackson, MS -- Unemployment Rate Falls As Employment Growth Continues. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent in February, a decrease of two-tenths of a percentage point from the January rate of 6.7 percent.
As the unemployment rate fell, the number of people working in Mississippi climbed for the 21st month in a row, increasing by 8,400 to 1,220,000. That is the highest number of Mississippians with jobs since June 2008.
For the year since February 2015, employment in our state posted a healthy increase of 47,900.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, also grew in February 2016 for the 19th consecutive month, rising by 6,500 to 1,305,500.
Over the year since February 2015, the Labor Force increased by 50,500 as more Mississippians got jobs or started seeking employment.
Because the number of Mississippians with jobs in February 2016 grew faster than the size of the Labor Force, the number of people who were unemployed fell by 1,900 to 85,500.
A separate survey of Mississippi employers indicated that the number of jobs rose by 5,100 to 1,145,200 in February. That is the highest number of jobs in Mississippi since August 2008.
“Because employment continues to grow, more people are deciding to enter the job market,” said Mark Henry, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. “As those Mississippians get jobs, they will be able to make better lives for their families.”
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov.
