Tate County unemployment dipped to 2.8% in March, a slight decrease from the previous month’s rate of 2.9%.
According to estimates from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES), Tate County’s jobless numbers are the lowest since November when the rate was 2.7%. Local unemployment jumped to 3.0% in January.
Tate County ranks 40th in the state in unemployment and the rate of 2.8% includes 11,290 of the eligible 11,610 residents, at least 16 years of age, actively searching for employment in March but could not secure a job.
The county’s rate of 2.8% is slightly higher than the state’s non-seasonally adjusted average of 2.6% and lower than the nationwide average of 3.9%.
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 increased 6,300 in March and 10,000 this year. The largest monthly employment increases were in Leisure & Hospitality; Trade, Transportation & Utilities sector; and the Construction sector.
For the month of March, 32 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 2.6 percent. Union County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 1.7% followed by Rankin County at 1.9. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.3% followed by Claiborne County at 6.2%.
March unemployment numbers for surrounding north Mississippi counties:
• DeSoto 2.5%, down from 2.5% in February
• Lafayette 2.0%, no change from 2.0% in February
• Marshall 2.9%, down from 3.1% in February
• Panola 3.4%, down from 3.6% in February
• Tunica 2.8%, down from 3.1% in February
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.
