The Tate County unemployment rate dipped to 3.4% in February, a minimal decrease from the 3.5% posted locally in January.
Estimates from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) show Tate County ranks 31st in the state in jobless numbers and the rate of 3.4% includes 11,670 of the eligible 12,090 residents, at least 16 years of age, who were actively searching for employment in February but could not secure a job.
The county’s rate of 3.4% was slightly higher than the statewide unadjusted average of 3.2%. Mississippi’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February decreased 0.3% from the previous month’s rate of 3.5 %.
Seasonally adjusted rates take annual patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and other occurrences that affect employment rates into account. Only nationwide and statewide percentages are adjusted.
The Local Area Unemployment Statistics program generates monthly estimates of the state’s labor force. Statistics are a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and State Employment Security agencies.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines an individual employed if they did any work at all for pay or profit during the survey week; this includes all part-time and temporary work as well as full-time year-round employment. Mississippi’s non-seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased 10,300 in February and was 16,000 higher than a year ago.
Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were Leisure & Hospitality; Government; and Educational & Health Services.
For the month of February, 28 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.2% and there were no counties with double digit unemployment rates.
Rankin and Union Counties posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of February at 2.4, followed by Lamar County at 2.5.
Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8, followed by Claiborne County at 6.4. February unemployment numbers for surrounding north Mississippi counties:
• DeSoto 2.8%, down from 2.9% in January
• Lafayette 2.7%, down from 2.9% in January
• Marshall 3.5%, down from 3.8% in January
• Panola 3.8%, down from 4.2% in January
• Tunica 3.7%, down from 4.3% in January
If you are searching for employment, visit the Tate County WIN Job Center on the Northwest Mississippi Community College campus in Senatobia or call (662) 562-3351 for more information.
