Unemployment in Newton County took a slight drop in July, according to the latest report from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
After rising nearly a point in June, July’s unemployment rate fell just one-tenth of a percentage point, down to 4.5 percent. In 2024, the July rate was reported at 3.8 percent.
The county’s 4.5 percent rate ranks as the state’s 26th lowest rate and shares the ranking with six other counties: Forrest, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Neshoba, Prentiss, and Tishomingo County.
The estimated number of unemployed in Newton County for the month of July didn’t budge, staying at 380, while the number of employed dropped by 10, down to 7,910. The county’s civilian labor force also dropped by 10, down to 8,290.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2025 at 4.6 percent was one-tenth of a percentage point higher than June 2025. When compared to the July 2024 rate of 3.7 percent, the rate increased nine-tenths of a percentage point. The Nation’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2025 at 4.6 percent increased two-tenths of a percentage point over the month and one-tenth of a percentage point over the year.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment at 1,194,200 decreased 6,300 over the month but was 16,200 higher than one year ago. The Government sector registered the largest monthly employment loss, followed by the Manufacturing sector.
For the month of July 2025, thirty-six counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 4.6 percent. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of July at 3.2 percent, followed by Hancock and Union Counties at 3.6 percent. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate for July at 13.0 percent, followed by Claiborne County at 12.0 percent.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2025 was 4.0 percent. The state’s seasonally adjusted series was unchanged over the month but increased nine-tenths of a percentage point over the year. The Nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.2 percent increased one-tenth of a percentage point over the month but was unchanged over the year.
In July 2025, there were 1,200,700 nonfarm jobs in Mississippi, according to the seasonally adjusted results from a survey of Mississippi employers. The number of nonfarm jobs decreased 100 over the month but increased 12,100 over the year. The Government sector had the largest monthly employment decrease while the Trade, Transportation & Utilities sector had the largest monthly employment increase.
Seasonally adjusted data removes the effects of events that follow a more or less regular pattern each year such as the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events. These adjustments make it easier to observe the cyclical and other non-seasonal movements in a data series. Amounts are seasonally adjusted at the National and State levels only.
