Neshoba County's unemployment rate dipped to 8.4 percent in September after soaring to 10.3 percent the previous month.
The jobless rate was lower than the state average of 8.8 percent and the national average of 9.5 percent.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia saw retail sales dip by $22,546, or 7.3 percent, in August, the most recently reported period. (See story, page 11A.)
Neshoba was the only county to show an increase in unemployment in August, yet in September was the 21st lowest.
With a labor force of 12,620, Neshoba County had
1,060 people unemployed in September.
About 195 employees returned to work in September at Weyerhaeuser when the company resumed its softwood lumber manufacturing operation in Philadelphia after a month-long shutdown in August.
Weak customer demand caused by low levels of residential housing starts lowered product demand for lumber, said Stan Webb, plant manager, said at the time.
The unemployment rate in Neshoba County was at 6 percent in September 2008.
Neshoba County's August unemployment rate of 10.3 percent was at it highest level in nearly a quarter of a century,
Only seven times during the last 40 years has the annual unemployment rate hit 10 percent.
So far this year - in the midst of the worst national economic downturn since the Great Depression - the county's jobless rate has reached 10 percent three times
Only 27 counties posted jobless rates less than or equal to the state's September 2009 rate of 8.8 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased over the month in all 82 counties.
Rankin posted the lowest jobless rate for the month of September at 5.6 percent, followed by Scott County at 5.9 percent.
Forty-one counties reported double digit rates for the month with six counties reporting rates greater than or equal to 15 percent.
September unemployment rates in counties that join Neshoba:
