State and local unemployment rates ticked up last months, but state officials say that’s part of an expected seasonal trend.
Mississippi’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent in December, compared to 5.2 percent the month before, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s monthly labor report.
Mary Willoughby, with MDES’ Labor Market Information department, said an increase in the non-adjusted rate is typical this time of year, as college students get out of class for winter break and some begin to look for work.
“When they’re out, if they look for unemployment during that time, they are considered unemployed until they find work,” she said.
The state’s seasonally adjusted rate — which accounts for seasonal hiring trends — fell slightly in to 5.6 percent in December, from 5.7 percent in November. The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December sat at 4.7 percent, a tenth of a percent higher than in November.
Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties all saw increased unemployment rates in December. County unemployment data is not seasonally adjusted.
Clay rose to 7.7 percent from 6.9 percent; Lowndes to 5.9 percent from 5.6 percent; and Oktibbeha to 5.6 percent from 4.6 percent.
Willoughby said the non-adjusted rate historically rises again in January, as some colleges don’t resume classes until after Jan. 12, when data collection for the month finishes. However, she said it typically falls in February and following months.
The statewide rate, and those of the three Golden Triangle counties, is still lower than one year ago. Mississippi’s fell from 7.1 percent in Dec. 2015 to 5.7 percent last month. Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties each saw a year-over-year unemployment rate reduction of at least 1 percent. That, Willoughby said, is the continuation of a steady fall in the unemployment rate over the last five years.
Willoughby said the state has seen growth across the board for employment. She said that’s been buoyed by health and education.
“Health services and education, even during the recession, those were the industries that stayed steady and didn’t have huge drops like the others did,” she said.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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