Lincoln County and other area counties posted healthy job gainsas most saw unemployment rate drops in July, according to totalsfrom the Mississippi Employment Security Commission (MESC).

Lincoln County’s rate dropped from 7.6 percent in June to 7percent in July. Chandler Russ, executive vice-president of theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, said that thecounty’s civilian labor force held steady at 14,930 from June toJuly.

“Ninety people during that same time found jobs,” Russ said,noting that the number of unemployed fell from 1,140 to 1,050.

Reviewing statistics, Russ said the job gains were not in anyone particular area. He said they were split betweennon-agriculture and agricultural endeavors.

“It’s a good sign, good improvement and good job growth,” Russsaid.

Russ predicted a good future for the rest of the year in thearea of unemployment.

“Other than seasonal adjustments, I think you’ll continue to seeimprovement in our job numbers,” Russ said, expecting a decline toaround the monthly 6.5 percent average.

With Lawrence County, Lincoln County had the third-lowest ratein the area and statewide, the counties tied at number 38. LawrenceCounty’s rate for July dropped eight-tenths of a point.

All area counties posted jobless declines in July. All but two,Walthall and Jefferson, had declines of more than half a point.

Walthall’s and Jefferson’s rates were down two-tenths to 9.2percent and 17.3 percent, respectively. Jefferson County’s rate wasthe second-highest in the state behind Clarke County’s 18.2percent.

Franklin County had the largest rate decline with a 1.6percentage point drop to 9.1 percent.

Pike and Amite counties each had nine-tenths of a point drops.Amite’s rate was down to 4.8 percent, still the lowest in the area,and Pike’s was 6.1 percent, the second-lowest in southwestMississippi.

Like Lincoln County, Copiah County’s jobless rate droppedsix-tenths of a point. Its July rate stood at 7.8 percent.

Statewide, unemployment fell from 7.4 percent in June to 6.5percent in July.

“Most counties saw their unemployment rates drop during July,”said MESC Executive Director Curt Thompson, noting the impact of anadditional 3,300 agriculture jobs on the state economy.

Rankin County at 3 percent had the lowest July jobless rate.

Thirty-two counties were at or below the state average of 6.5percent while. Twenty-six counties were below the national averageof 6 percent.

MESC officials expected further improvement in August as studentjob seekers return to school and lessen pressure of the jobmarket.