The Mississippi Department of Employment Security announced the numbers for the unemployment rate in Mississippi and the numbers look better than they have in years.
The number of non-farm jobs in Mississippi increased by 1,400 in September to 1,153,500. The job numbers in July and September 2017 were the highest since May 2008.
Over the year since September 2016, the number of jobs in our state increased by 6,500. These numbers are based on a survey of employers. That employer survey is recognized as the most reliable indicator of job growth.
At the same time, Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in September, which is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than a month earlier in August and half of a percentage point lower than a year ago in September 2016, when the rate was 5.7%.
The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, decreased in September by 4,800 to 1,278,200. Over the year since September 2016, the Labor Force fell by 3,600.
The number of people working in Mississippi decreased in September by 2,500 to 1,212,200. However, for the year since September 2016, employment in our state increased by 3,900.
The number of unemployed Mississippians fell by 2,300 in September to 66,000. Over the year since September 2016, the number of Mississippians without jobs decreased by 7,500.
