Mississippi turned overall employment in the right direction in 2010, adding 3,600 non-farm jobs, though the manufacturing and construction sectors continued to fall, the state Department of Employment Security said Wednesday. Golden Triangle counties all posted slight declines in unemployment.
Overall, the state was down 3,700 jobs, on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, from December 2008, about three months after the economic freefall. The count rose by 700 last month.
After months of declines, local counties showed signs of their employment pictures stabilizing. In Lowndes County, unemployment stood at 11.1 percent in December, down from 11.6 percent in November. Oktibbeha County posted a rate of 8.8 percent, down from 9.1 percent. Clay County”s rate was 17.3 percent in December, down from November”s 18.8 percent.
Government employment at all levels in Mississippi fell by 5,500 jobs, or 2.2 percent.
All of last year”s growth came in the service-providing sector, which added 8,000 jobs for a 0.9 percent growth rate The goods-producing sector fell by 4,400 jobs, or 2.3 percent.
Construction sustained a 4.2 percent drop, losing 2,000 jobs. Manufacturing fell by 3,400 jobs, or 2.4 percent. Mining and logging, which includes petroleum, increased by 1,000 or 12.3 percent.
In services, the widespread professional-business services sector increased by 6,700 jobs, or 8 percent; education and health services gained 2,700 jobs for a 2 percent increase; leisure-hospitality added 2,200 jobs, for a 1.9 percent increase and trade, transportation and utilities was up by 2,000 jobs, or 0.9 percent.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Mississippi”s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in December, up from 10 percent in November, and down from 10.5 percent in December 2009. Along with last month”s job increase, the number of those actively looking for work increased, contributing to the rate increase.
The national unemployment rate for December was 9.4 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November and 9.9 percent in December 2009.
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