Mississippi's Employment Situation
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November 18, 2016
Jackson, MS -- Unemployment Rate Fell in October. Lowest Number of Unemployed Mississippians Since February 2004. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in October. The October rate is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in September when the rate was 6.0%. The October 2016 rate is six-tenths of a percentage point lower than a year ago in October 2015 when the rate was 6.5%.
Also, the number of unemployed Mississippians declined again to 75,000. That is the lowest number of unemployed Mississippians since February 2004. The October figure is 900 lower than a month earlier in September and 8,400 lower than a year ago in October 2015.
The number of people working in Mississippi rose in October by 7,700 to 1,195,700. For the year since October 2015, employment in our state increased by 4,800.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, increased in October by 6,800 to 1,278,400. Over the year since October 2015, the Labor Force decreased by 3,600.
A separate survey of employers indicated that the number of jobs in Mississippi declined slightly in October by 700 to 1,139,900. Over the year since October 2015, the number of jobs was down 1,000.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov.
