Mississippi's Employment Situation
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March 24, 2017
Jackson, MS -- Unemployment Rate Falls To Lowest Level In More Than 15 Years. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% in February, which was three-tenths of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in January 2017. The February rate is the lowest level of unemployment in Mississippi since May 2001. The February 2017 rate is nine-tenths of a percentage point lower than a year ago in February 2016, when the rate was 6.1%.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, increased in February by 6,900 to 1,298,200. Over the year since February 2016, the Labor Force grew by 13,300. In February 2017 the Labor Force was the largest since October 2012.
The number of people working in Mississippi rose in February by 10,300 to 1,230,100. For the year since February 2016, employment in our state posted a healthy increase of 23,000. In February 2017 more people were working in Mississippi than at any time since April 2008.
The number of unemployed Mississippians fell in February by 3,400 to 68,100. Over the year since February 2016, the number of Mississippians without jobs fell by 9,700. In February 2017 fewer Mississippians were unemployed than at any time since May 2001.
A separate survey of employers indicated that the number of non-farm jobs rose in February by 1,300 to 1,147,900. Over the year since February 2016, the number of non-farm jobs increased by 800. In February 2017 there were more jobs in Mississippi than at any time since June 2008.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov
