The unemployment rate for Lincoln County continues to drop. At its lowest point for the 21st century, the rate stood at 4.3 percent for April.

Representing 620 unemployed individuals, the percentage ties Lincoln County for the 32nd lowest rate in the state, alongside Benton, Chickasaw, Lowndes and Yalobusha counties.

Jefferson and Issaquena counties have the highest rates of unemployment, at 11 and 11.1 percent, respectively.

Rankin and Union counties are tied for the lowest rate, at 3 percent.

Lincoln County has 14,540 workers in the labor force, defined as individuals age 16 or over who claim the county as their residence, are not in the military and are available to work.

Seasonally adjusted data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security places the U.S. civilian labor force for April at 160.2 million, up slightly from 158.9 million in April 2016.

Mississippi’s labor force remained virtually unchanged, increasing only slightly over the year from 1.28 million to 1.3 million.

The national unemployment rate dropped from 5 percent (7.9 million) in April 2016 to 4.4 percent (7.05 million) this April. The state rate dropped from 6 percent (76,241) to 5 percent (64,687).

MDES labor force data is compiled monthly and presented in estimates.