Area unemployment rates for November were down from October but mostly up from November 2012, based on data released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Lowndes County reported an 8.9 percent rate, which represents about 2,380 people actively seeking work. Last November, that number was 8.8, but it’s improved from October’s rate of 9.6 percent.
Clay County once again had the highest rate in Mississippi at 16.8 percent last month. In November 2012, the rate was 16.6. That’s about 1,210 people looking for jobs. The rate improved more than 1 percent between October and November this year. In October, the rate was 18.2.
Oktibbeha County bucked the trend. Not only did it report a lower rate last month than in November 2012, it was the only county in the Golden Triangle to whose rate fell below the state average of 7.6. Oktibbeha County’s 7.3 rate means approximately 1,530 job seekers live there. In November 2012 that number was 7.6, compared to 8.0 in October 2013.
Noxubee County had a 13.9 percent rate, about 510 people. That’s up from 13.1 percent last November but down 1 percent from 14.9 in October.
All told, Mississippi had about 97,500 people statewide seeking work, MDES data shows. That rate, 7.6, is a full percent higher than the 6.6 national average. For the sixth straight month, rates have been down statewide, including a near 2 point drop from 10.3 to 8.6 percent in July.
It is a common theme for rates to drop during the holiday season as workers are hired for temporary seasonal jobs, MDES labor market specialist Mary Willoughby said.
The industries reporting the greatest employment gains were trade, transportation and utilities (2.1 percent), professional and business services (2 percent) and non-durable goods (0.6 percent).
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
