Governor Tate Reeves has announced that Mississippi set multiple unemployment records in May.
According to the Republican lawmaker, total non-farm employment in the Magnolia State reached a record high with 1,191,300 jobs. Additionally, at only 34,605 Mississippians, the state reached a new low for the number of unemployed individuals while maintaining a record-low unemployment rate of 2.8%.
Reeves has touted some of Mississippi’s recent achievements in education and workforce development as pivotal feats that have given residents more opportunities to find employment in the state.
Mississippi was recently recognized as a top five state for quality pre-kindergarten education. The Magnolia State’s high school graduation rate is currently at an all-time high and ranks above the national average. Mississippi also led the nation in fourth-grade reading and math gains, per Reeves.
Earlier this year, Mississippi set a record for new private sector investment in a year when it finalized approximately $12 billion in new economic development projects. This includes the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history, a $10 billion private sector investment by Amazon Web Services that will create 1,000 jobs. The other major investment is a $1.9 million EV battery plant coming to Marshall County.
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“Our economy is firing on all cylinders, which is why we continue to make history,” Reeves said in a press release. “There are more jobs in Mississippi than ever before, which is truly a victory worth celebrating. We’ll continue fighting for good-paying, high-quality jobs that attract more residents to our great state.”
Mississippi began seeing steep declines in unemployment rates in March 2023 when the state reached 3.5% unemployed. The trend has continued into 2024. The May jobs report can be read in full here.
