The Tate County unemployment rate dipped under three percent for the first time in over a year, according to December statistics from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES).
Data from MDES shows Tate County with a 2.9% jobless rate – a sharp decrease from 3.6% in November.
Tate ranked 17th in the state in unemployment in December and the rate of 2.9% includes an estimated 11,960 of the eligible 12,310 residents, at least 16 years of age, actively searching for employment in December but could not secure a job.
The county’s jobless numbers are lower than the Mississippi’s non-seasonally adjusted average of 3.1% and nationwide average of 4.1%.
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.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment of 1,209,700 decreased by 5,600 in December but is 7,800 higher than a year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment losses in December were Government and Leisure & Hospitality.
For the month, 32 in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.1%. Lafayette County had the lowest at 2.1% followed by Rankin at 2.2%. Jefferson County had the highest rate at 9.5% followed by Claiborne at 7.4%.
December unemployment numbers for surrounding north Mississippi counties:
• DeSoto 2.9%, down from 3.4% in November
• Lafayette 2.1%, down from 2.9% in November
• Marshall 3.7%, down from 4.2% in November
• Panola 3.7%, down from 4.7% in November
• Tunica 4.3%, down from 4.9% in November
Job seekers can scan a list of employment openings on the Mississippi Department of Employment Security website at mdes.ms.gov
Low employment is good for a community, but it can present concerns for businesses looking to fill posts. Higher paying jobs of skilled labor often find employees jumping from job to job and employers offering perks to keep good workers. Mississippi also has a low labor force participation rate, limiting talent to fill skilled jobs.
This lack of skilled workers prompts many employees to leave jobs unfilled and those not qualified to fill those posts to seek unemployment and ultimately fall off unemployent rolls.
