Most counties in the Golden Triangle saw an increase in unemployment last month.
Oktibbeha and Lowndes counties each rose 0.4%, while Noxubee County grew 0.3% since April. Clay was the only county to see a decrease from last month, falling 0.1% from from 4.4% to 4.3%, according to data released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
All average rates for 2025 so far across the four counties have increased between 0.3% and 0.7% from 2024 annual averages.
Rates are higher in each of the counties in comparison to May 2024, with Lowndes County seeing the least difference with a .9% increase from 3.0% last year. Oktibbeha and Clay counties increased by 1.1% and 0.1%, respectively. Noxubee County had a 1.4% increase from May 2024 (3.7%) to May 2025 (5.1%).
On the state level, unemployment stayed stagnant at 4.0% from April to May, a 0.2% increase from May 2024. The national rate remained stagnant at 4.2% in April and May as well.
There are currently 3,050 people unemployed in the Golden Triangle which is up from 2,320 in May 2024.
The number of unemployed people in Lowndes County and Oktibbeha Counties rose to 1,010 and 900 unemployed, respectively, since May of 2024. Clay and Noxubee Counties have grown to 370 and 200 people, since May of 2024.
There are currently 48,513 people unemployed in the state of Mississippi, which is a 32% increase from May 2024.
Across the United States there are 6.8 million unemployed which is a 9.3% increase from May 2024.
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You can help your community
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 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
