Unemployment in Tate County remained at 3.4% for the second consecutive month in August, according to statistics from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Tate County ranks 39th in the state in unemployment and the rate of 3.4% includes 11,500 of the eligible 11,910 residents, at least 16 years of age, actively searching for employment in August but could not secure a job.
The county’s rate of 3.4% is slightly higher than the state’s non-seasonally adjusted average of 3.2% and lower than the nationwide average of 4.4%.
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 not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased by 100 workers in August but has increased 10,500 this year. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment losses in August were Manufacturing and Leisure & Hospitality.
For the month of August, 32 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.2%. Rankin and Union Counties posted the lowest rate at 2.3% followed by Lafayette, Lamar and Madison Counties at 2.5. Jefferson County had the highest jobless rate in August at 11.9% followed by Claiborne County at 7.7.
August unemployment numbers for surrounding north Mississippi counties:
• DeSoto 3.0%, unchanged from 3.0% in July
• Lafayette 2.5%, down from 2.8% in July
• Marshall 3.6%, down from 3.7% in July
• Panola 4.0%, down from 4.2% in July
• Tunica 3.8%, down from 4.0% in July
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.
