Despite historically low unemployment numbers over the past five-plus years, Marion County’s unemployment rate made a small increase in December to 4.8 percent.
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security released the data Jan. 23, and the local numbers reflected national and statewide trends of slight increases in unemployment.
Marion County’s unemployment had dropped to 4.4 percent in November, which was the same percentage as December 2017.
Although the unemployment rate increased, there were only 10 fewer people employed in Marion County in December than November. The biggest reason for the unemployment increase was the ratio compared to the available labor force, which increased from 10,130 to 10,180. That means more people moved into the county or people who were living here and didn’t have jobs started looking for them.
Although the unemployment rate increased, Marion County actually jumped up the list of state unemployment rate in Mississippi’s 82 counties. Marion County ranked 38th in November but improved to the 28th lowest rate in the state. Rankin was first again at 3.4 percent despite a jump from 3.1 percent in November, while Jefferson remained last at 12.1 percent.
Mississippi’s unemployment rate jumped from 4.1 percent in November to 4.7 percent in December, while the United States increased from 3.5 to 3.7 percent.
Other counties of note (all had unemployment rate increases in December):
- Walthall: 6.4 percent
- Lawrence: 6.4 percent
- Jeff Davis: 5.9 percent
- Lamar: 3.6 percent
- Pearl River: 4.8 percent
- Forrest: 4.3
