Unemployment in Tate County dipped to 3.2% in December, a 0.3% decrease from the previous month’s figures.
Estimates from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) show Tate County’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in November, 3.2% in October, 3.6% in September and August, 4.3% in July, 4.6% in June and 3.7% in May.
Tate County ranks 15th in the state in unemployment and the rate of 3.2% includes 11,800 of the eligible 12,220 residents, at least 16 years of age, actively searching for employment in December but were unable to secure a job. The county’s rate of 3.2% is slightly lower than the statewide non-seasonally adjusted average of 3.4%.
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.
In December, there were 500 more jobs in Mississippi than in November, according to the seasonally adjusted results from a survey of Mississippi employers.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment decreased 5,500 over the month but was 400 higher than one year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment losses were Government; Education & Health Services; Leisure & Hospitality; and Professional & Business Services.
Seasonally adjusted data removes the effects of events that follow regular pattern each year such as the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events. These adjustments make it easier to observe the cyclical and other non-seasonal movements in a data series. Amounts are seasonally adjusted at the national and state levels only.
For the month of December, 28 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.4%. Lafayette County posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of December at 2.4% followed by Lamar, Rankin, and Union Counties at 2.5%. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate for December at 11.7% followed by Claiborne County at 7.3%.
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.
