Lincoln County’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.7 percent in October, according to recent data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

The rate represents 810 people who couldn’t find work. That number decreased from 830 in September – the labor force also decreased in October, leading to the identical jobless rate for both months.

October’s rate of 5.7 percent is a decrease compared to 6.2 percent in October of 2014.

Mississippi’s unemployment rate for October was unchanged over the month at 5.9 percent. When compared to the October 2014 rate of 7.2 percent, the rate decreased 1.3 percentage points.

Twenty-nine counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 5.9 percent. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate for the month of October at 3.8 percent followed by Madison County at 4.2 percent. Issaquena County had the highest unemployment rate for October at 11.9 percent followed by Jefferson County at 11.5 percent.

Nearby, Copiah County posted a 6.5 percent rate, Lawrence had a 6.9 percent, Franklin had a 6.7 percent rate and Pike posted a 6.6 jobless rate.

Lincoln County’s October rate was the 23rd lowest in the state. The county’s 12-month average rate is 6.1 percent.

The county’s rate is the lowest October rate in five years. It was highest — 9.6 percent — in 2010.

There were 46 initial unemployment insurance claims and 372 continued claims in October of this year. That’s down from September’s numbers.

For more information, visit mdes.ms.gov.