Marion County’s unemployment rate rose to 5.6 percent in November, up from both the previous month and the same month last year.
The jobless rate had been 5.1 percent in October and 4.5 percent in November 2018.
The statewide unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, according to numbers the Mississippi Department of Employment Security released last week.
Marion County ranked 27th out of 82 counties, which is roughly where it has been for the past several months. While Mississippi’s unemployment picture has worsened slightly, the national economy continues to set record lows with the U.S. unemployment rate decreasing one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.5 percent in November.
The Marion County labor force, which measures people who have jobs or are looking for one, was 10,100 in November with 9,540 employed. A year ago (November 2018) the labor force was 40 people less but there were 70 more people employed than there are today.
Lamar and Rankin counties tied with the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 4.0 percent. Jefferson County had the highest at 15.6 percent followed by Claiborne (10.6 percent) and Holmes (10.0 percent).
Here’s a look at other nearby counties:
l Walthall: 7.6 percent
l Lawrence: 6.7 percent
l Jeff Davis: 6.5 percent
l Covington: 4.8 percent
l Jones: 5.7 percent
l Forrest: 4.8 percent
l Pearl River: 5.3 percent
