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10.26.22 – The Dispatch 

Local unemployment rose in September while the state rate remained the same as in August and the national rate fell, according to the latest labor market report by the Mississippi Department of Employment and Security.

Jobless rates in Clay and Noxubee Counties rose 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent over the last month, while Lowndes saw no difference.

Oktibbeha was the only county to show improvement, dropping 0.1 percent from 3.8 percent in August.

Compared to a year ago, the most significant improvements were in Lowndes and Noxubee counties, which currently sit at 3.9 and 6.6 percent, respectively. Clay fell 1.1 percent from 5.9, and Oktibbeha fell 0.9 percent, showing nominal improvements from September 2021.

On the state and national level, Mississippi saw no change from 3.7 percent unemployment in August, while the national rate fell 0.5 percent to 3.3. Both state and national rates showed an average 1-percent drop compared to a year ago when they were at 4.7 and 4.6 percent.

The number of unemployed people in Lowndes, Clay and Noxubee counties rose to 1,010, 390 and 230, respectively. In contrast, Oktibbeha fell by 20 people to 840. Across all four counties, there are 2,470 people unemployed, showing a 22.5 percent decrease from September 2021.

There are currently 47,100 unemployed across the state, showing a 21.6 percent improvement from 58,500 in September 2021. Across the nation, there are 5,460,000 unemployed, compared to 7,366,000 in September 2021.