Unemployment for the month of September took a significant drop in Newton County, according to the latest numbers from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, with the rate in Newton County coming in at 3.5 percent, a nine-tenths of a point drop from 4.4 percent that was posted in August.
The September rate is six-tenths of a point lower than the rate from September 2022, which came in at 4.1 percent.
Newton’s 3.5 percent rate ties seven other counties for the 44th lowest rate amongst counties in Mississippi, sharing the spot with Benton, Bolivar, Clarke, Grenada, Lawrence, Tallahatchie, and Warren Counties.
The estimated number of unemployed in Newton County decreased by fifty in the month of September, from 340 to 270, while the employed total decreased by ten to 7,420. The counties Civilian Labor Force also decreased by 80, moving down to 7,690 from 7,770.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state of Mississippi in September remained unchanged over the month at 3.2 percent. When compared to one year ago, the rate was eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than the 4.0 percent reported for September 2022. The Nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 3.8 percent was unchanged over the month and was three-tenths of a percentage point higher than the year ago rate of 3.5 percent.
In September 2023, the number of jobs in Mississippi at 1,174,400 increased 6,300 from August
2023, according to the seasonally adjusted results from a survey of Mississippi employers. Since
September 2022, the number of jobs has increased 5,600. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were Trade, Transportation & Utilities; Education & Health Services; and Other Services.
For the month of September 2023, twenty-seven counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.1 percent. Lafayette, Rankin, and Union Counties posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of September at 2.2 percent followed by Lamar, Madison, Pontotoc, and Scott Counties at 2.5 percent. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate for September at 11.8 percent followed by Claiborne County at 7.9 percent.
