 |
|
|
9/2/2009 6:02:00 PM
Jobless rate dips to 9.4%
| |
|
By DEBBIE BURT MYERS
Managing Editor
Neshoba County's unemployment rate inched downward to 9.4 percent in July, the 14th lowest in the state and slightly lower than the national average.
The county's jobless rate decreased from 9.9 percent in June, compared to May when the jobless rate here reached 10.5 percent.
Unemployment rates this year have been among the highest in 40 years.
March, May and July all recorded rates at or slightly above 10 percent.
With a labor force of 13,600, the county had 1,270 people unemployed in July, the latest figures show.
The current rate compares to an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent last July.
The state unemployment rate was at 10.5 percent in July, while the national rate was at 9.7 percent.
Neshoba tied with Simpson County in posting the 14th lowest jobless rate in the state.
Only 24 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state's rate of 10.5 percent.
Rankin County had the lowest rate at 6.5 percent, followed by Lamar County at 7.7 percent.
Sixty-one counties reported double-digit rates for the month, with nine counties reporting rates greater than 15 percent.
Three counties posted unemployment rates greater than 20 percent with Jefferson County having the highest rate at 21 percent.
July unemployment rates in counties that join Neshoba:
• Winston, 16.9 percent.
• Kemper, 12.1 percent.
• Lauderdale, 9.8 percent.
• Newton, 9.8 percent.
• Scott, 7.8 percent.
• Leake, 11.7 percent.
• Attala, 14.3 percent.
Neshoba County's highest July rate was in 1986 when it reached 16.3 percent, followed in 1980 when it was 16.1 percent and 14.6 percent in 1975.
Neshoba County posted its lowest rate for July in 1998, when it fell to 3.5 percent.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
|
|
|
