Mississippi’s Employment Situation
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November 17, 2017
Jackson, MS --- Unemployment Rate Falls and Number of Jobs Increases. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Mississippi’s unemployment rate fell in October 2017 to 4.9%, tying with the May 2017 rate as the lowest level of unemployment ever recorded in Mississippi.
The October rate is three-tenths of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in September and eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than a year ago in October 2016, when the rate was 5.7%.
The number of non-farm jobs in Mississippi rose by 2,100 in October to 1,153,600, which are the most jobs in Mississippi since May 2008.
Over the year since October 2016, the number of jobs in our state increased by 6,500. These numbers are based on a survey of employers. That employer survey is recognized as the most reliable indicator of job growth.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, decreased in October by 5,900 to 1,272,000. Over the year since October 2016, the Labor Force fell by 10,600.
The number of people working in Mississippi decreased in October by 2,100 to 1,209,500. For the year since October 2016, employment in our state decreased by 500.
The number of unemployed Mississippians fell by 3,500 in October to 62,500, which is the lowest number of Mississippians without jobs since October 1979.
Over the year since October 2016, the number of unemployed Mississippians decreased by 10,100.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov.
