MDES: Mississippi's unemployment rate nears historic low

(The following is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.)

Mississippi’s unemployment rate in April 2018 was 4.6%, the second lowest level of unemployment ever recorded in Mississippi.

The April rate is one-tenth of a percentage point higher than a month earlier in March 2018, when the rate was 4.5% and seven-tenths of a percentage point lower than a year ago in April 2017, when the rate was 5.3%. The Labor Force, which is made up of everyone who has a job or is looking for a job, increased in April by 1,400 to 1,275,200. Over the year since April 2017, the Labor Force fell by 7,100. The number of people working in Mississippi rose in April by 500 to 1,217,000. For the year since April 2017, employment in our state increased by 2,600. The number of unemployed Mississippians increased by 900 in April to 58,200; however, over the year since April 2017, the number of unemployed Mississippians decreased by 9,700. The number of non-farm jobs in Mississippi edged downward by 1,100 in April to 1,164,500. The April 2018 job figure is the second highest number of jobs ever recorded in Mississippi. Over the year since April 2017, the number of jobs in our state increased by 14,900. These numbers are based on a survey of employers. That employer survey is recognized as the most reliable indicator of job growth.