Unemployment rates throughout the Jackson and Hattiesburg areas continued to see nominal improvement in May, falling 0.1% to 0.3% in all five of the area counties, according to a Mississippi Department of Employment May report.
The improved rates in Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Lamar and Forrest counties also seem to line up with continued shrinkage of the state's jobless figures, while the nation's rate has risen as compared to last year for a second month in a row.
Democratic U.S. President Joseph Biden said in a press release Wednesday that he is happy to see the magnolia state continue to see year-over-year decline in unemployment, which he credits to his economic policies within the U.S. workforce.
“My economic plan is creating good-paying jobs in Mississippi—more than 27,000 Mississippians have gained jobs since I took office, and unemployment is at a record low of (2.9%)," Biden wrote.
Unemployment reports from MDES are released every one to two months and the data reflects the month prior or earlier in the year. the MDES June unemployment figures will be released July 23, according to its website.
See April rates in Jackson, HattiesburgJackson, Hattiesburg areas see improved unemployment rates
Jackson area unemployment figures
Year over year in the Jackson area, Madison County saw the most decline in its jobless rate, falling to 2.2% from 2.5% in May 2023.
Hinds County fell 0.2% from May 2023, now siting at 2.8% unemployment. Rankin County saw the smallest improvement, improving by only 0.1% to now resting at 2.1% unemployment.
Hinds County currently has 2,870 people unemployed, 160 fewer than it did in May 2023. Madison County has 1,180, compared to 1,350 by this time last year and Rankin 1,580, which is 70 fewer than it did in May 2023.
Together, the Jackson area has 5,400 people unemployed, compared to 6,030 in May 2023.
Unemployment rates in Hattiesburg
In the Hattiesburg area, Forrest and Lamar counties fell 0.2% and 0.1% from 2.9% and 2.3%, respectively, in May 2023. Forrest County's unemployment rate now sits at 2.7% and Lamar County is at 2.2%.
There are 890 people unemployed in Forrest County, a 60-person drop from May 2023 (950). Lamar County has 720 unemployed, compared to 730 in May 2023.
Together, the Hattiesburg area has 1,610 unemployed people, compared to 1,680 by this time last year.
How do local figures compare to state and national jobless rates
On the state and national level, unemployment fell to 2.9% from 3.1% in Mississippi, while the nation's jobless rate rose 0.3% from 3.4% in May 2023, now sitting at 3.7%.
Read about state revenues, income taxWhat do MS revenue figures say about future of income tax cuts?
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves sang the state's praises in a press release issued Wednesday, giving credit to the state's growing economy and several projects within the state that have created more jobs.
“Our economy is firing on all cylinders, which is why we continue to make history,” Reeves said. “There are more jobs in Mississippi than ever before, which is truly a victory worth celebrating. We’ll continue fighting for good-paying, high-quality jobs that attract more residents to our great state.”
There are currently 35,600 people unemployed in Mississippi, compared to 37,600 in May 2023. Across the nation, 6,235,000 people are unemployed, compared to 5,700,000 in May 2023.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
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