Marion County’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in February and remains near historically low levels.
The February rate was 5.1 percent compared to 5.4 percent in January. It had been 4.8 percent in December and 4.4 percent in November.
There were 30 additional jobs in Marion County in February versus January.
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security released the latest numbers this week. The state unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, the second-lowest ever recorded. The national rate was also near record lows at 4.1 percent.
The labor force in Marion County, which measures the number of people who have jobs or are actively looking for one, was up to 10,030 in February versus 10,020 in January. There were 9,510 employed versus 9,480 the previous month.
Marion County’s unemployment rate was 37th out of Mississippi’s 82 counties.
The lowest county was Rankin at 3.5 percent, and the highest was Jefferson at 12.8 percent.
Surrounding counties included Lamar, 3.7 percent; Pearl River, 4.7 percent; Walthall, 6.4 percent; Lawrence, 6.2 percent; and Jeff Davis, 6.0 percent.
