Mississippi’s Employment Situation
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June 16, 2017
Jackson, MS --- Unemployment Rate Falls To Record Low. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in May, the lowest level since the U.S. Department of Labor began publishing state unemployment rates in January 1976.
The May 2017 rate is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in April and a percentage point lower than a year ago in May 2016, when the rate was 5.9%.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, declined in May by 3,300 to 1,303,100. Over the year since May 2016, the Labor Force grew by 23,700.
The number of people working in Mississippi fell in May by 2,600 to 1,239,000. For the year since May 2016, employment in our state posted an increase of 35,500.
The number of unemployed Mississippians fell in May by 700 to 64,100. Over the year since May 2016, the number of Mississippians without jobs fell by 11,800. In May 2017 fewer Mississippians were unemployed than at any time since May 1999.
A separate survey of employers indicated that the number of non-farm jobs declined slightly in May by 600 to 1,144,500. Over the year since May 2016, the number of non-farm jobs increased by 2,600.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov
