Mississippi's Employment Situation
Share Page
March 22, 2019
Jackson, MS --- Unemployment Rate at Near Historic Low and Number of Jobs Near Historic High. This is the latest information announced today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
In February 2019 Mississippi’s unemployment rate was 4.8%, which is the second lowest level of unemployment ever recorded in Mississippi. The unemployment rate has now been at 4.8% or lower for eleven months in a row.
The February rate is one-tenth of a percentage point higher than a month earlier in January 2019 but is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than a year ago in February 2018 when the rate was 4.9%.
In February the number of nonfarm jobs in Mississippi increased by 600 to 1,161,900, which is the second highest number of jobs ever recorded in Mississippi. Over the year since February 2018, the number of jobs in our state increased by 12,100.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, declined in February by 3,300 to 1,270,300. Over the year since February 2018, the Labor Force fell by 6,400.
The number of people working in Mississippi declined in February by 3,700 to 1,209,700. Over the year since February 2018, employment in our state decreased by 4,900.
The number of unemployed Mississippians in February was 60,600, which was 400 higher than a month earlier in January 2019; however, over the year since February 2018, the number of unemployed Mississippians is down by 1,500.
For details or questions on this information, please contact Mary Willoughby at (601) 321-6260 or by email at: mwilloughby@mdes.ms.gov.
