Mississippi’s Employment Situation
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May 19, 2017
Jackson, MS -- Unemployment Rate Falls To Lowest Level Since 1976. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0% in April, tying the lowest level since January 1976 when the current method of calculating state unemployment rates started. Since 1976 the Mississippi rate has been 5.0% in ten months but never lower.
The April 2017 rate is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in March and a percentage point lower than a year ago in Apri 2016, when the rate was 6.0%.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, increased in April by 3,500 to 1,306,200. Over the year since April 2016, the Labor Force grew by 25,400. In April 2017 the Labor Force was the largest since September 2012.
The number of people working in Mississippi rose in April by 4,600 to 1,241,500. For the year since April 2016, employment in our state posted a healthy increase of 36,900. In April 2017 more people were working in Mississippi than at any time since January 2001.
The number of unemployed Mississippians fell in April by 1,100 to 64,700. Over the year since April 2016, the number of Mississippians without jobs fell by 11,500. In April 2017 fewer Mississippians were unemployed than at any time since June 1999.
A separate survey of employers indicated that the number of non-farm jobs declined slightly in April by 400 to 1,144,900. Over the year since April 2016, the number of non-farm jobs increased by 700.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov
