Neshoba County unemployment rate down nearly 1.9% for Oct.

Neshoba County’s October unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, an eight-tenths of a percent drop when compared to the previous month, according to figures from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security figures.

Compared to the unemployment rate of 6.1% a year ago during the waning months of the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment has dropped 1.9% in the past year.

There were 410 unemployed people during October, which was 80 less than last month. Neshoba County’s labor force in October stood at 9,670 people, a decrease of 230 people when compared to September’s 9,800 total. 

Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2021 was 3.9%, decreasing eight-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate of 4.7%. When compared to the October 2020 rate of 6.2%, the rate decreased by 2.3 percentage points.

The number of unemployed decreased 9,800 over the month, while the employed total increased 3,300 from the prior month. The nation’s unemployment rate for October 2021 at 4.3% decreased three-tenths of a percentage point over the month and 2.3 percentage points over the year.

Mississippi’s nonfarm employment increased 15,900 over the month and 27,200 over the year. 

Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were Trade, Transportation & Utilities; Professional & Business Services; Leisure & Hospitality; and Educational & Health Services.

For October 2021, 27 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.9%. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate for October at 2.7%. Jefferson County had the highest at 12.2%.