Unemployment in Tate County saw little change in March as the rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month to 6.0 percent.
Estimates by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security show the statewide March jobless rate was 6.3 percent, up slightly from 6.1 percent in February. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, a drop from 6.6 percent the month before.
Tate County ranks 23rd in the state in unemployment and the jobless rate of 6.0 percent includes 11,440 of the eligible 12,170 residents, at least 16 years of age, who were actively searching for employment in March but could not secure a job.
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 5,500 over the month to 1,118,900. When compared to one year ago, the number of nonfarm jobs decreased 34,100. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains in March were professional & business services and construction.
State and national figures are reported on a seasonally adjusted basis, which takes into account season changes such as the start and end of schools and holidays. County figures are reported as non-seasonally adjusted.
Thirty-three counties in Mississippi posted March unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 6.3 percent. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 3.9 percent followed by Lafayette and Lamar Counties at 4.5 percent. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate at 16.7 percent followed by Humphreys County at 14.0 percent.
March unemployment numbers for surrounding north Mississippi counties:
• DeSoto 4.6 percent, up from 4.5 percent in February
• Lafayette 4.5 percent, up from 4.3 percent in February
• Marshall 6.2 percent, unchanged from 6.2 percent in February
• Panola 8.1 percent, up from 7.9 percent in February
• Tunica 9.7 percent, down from 9.9 percent 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.
