Unemployment in Newton County rose by seven-tenths of a point in May, according to the latest report from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
According to the latest MDES jobs report, the county’s unemployment rate in May came in at 3.8 percent, slightly increasing since April. A year ago, the unemployment rate in Newton County was reported at 2.9 percent, nine-tenths of a point lower.
The county’s May rate ranks as the 29th lowest in the state, sharing the ranking with seven other counties: Clarke, Copiah, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pontotoc, and Tishimingo.
The estimated number of unemployed in Newton County for the month of May increased by 50, up to 310, while the number of employed dropped by 70, down to 7,980. The county’s civilian labor force also dropped down 30, coming in at 8,290.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2025 was 3.8 percent, increasing three-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate of 3.5 percent. When compared to May 2024, the rate increased nine-tenths of a percentage point over the year. The Nation’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2025 at 4.0 percent increased one-tenth of a percentage point over the month and three-tenths of a percentage point over the year.
Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment remained at 1,204,000 from the prior month, an increase of 15,400 jobs from one year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest yearly employment gains were Private Education & Health Services; Professional & Business Services, Construction; and Leisure & Hospitality.
For the month of May 2025, thirty-six counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 3.8 percent. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of May at 2.7 percent followed by Lafayette County at 2.9 percent. Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate for May at 10.6 percent followed by Issaquena County at 10.0 percent.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2025 at 4.0 percent was unchanged over the month. The rate was 1.2 percentage point higher than the 2.8 percent reported for May 2024. The Nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.2 percent was also unchanged over the month but increased two-tenths of a percentage point from the year ago rate of 4.0 percent.
The number of nonfarm jobs in Mississippi for May 2025 was a record high at 1,200,600. According to the seasonally adjusted results from a survey of Mississippi employers, there were 300 more nonfarm jobs than April 2025. Over the year the number of nonfarm jobs has increased 14,100. 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.
