The outlook for unemployment in Lincoln County is a bit brighter, with fewer people in September claiming to be looking for jobs but unable to find employment.

In September 2023, Mississippi claimed a civilian labor force of 1.225 million. Of these, 38,000 — or 3.1 percent — said they were available to work but could not find employment. Across the United States, the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the same period.

Both the state and national averages dropped from 3.9 in August, though the labor force dropped for each, also. In August, Mississippi had 1.232 million workers with 48,600 unemployed. Nationally, the labor force dropped by more than 300,000 and the number of people out of work dropped by more than 570,000.

In Lincoln County, 450 people out of 14,150 were unemployed during September — an unemployment rate of 3.2 percent. The numbers are better than August, when 600 people from 14,220 were unemployed (4.2 percent). In September 2022, the county’s unemployment rate was 3.6, or 530 people out of work from a work force of 14,610.

In surrounding counties, the percentages were as follows: Copiah 3.3; Lawrence 3.5; Amite 3.9; Pike 4.0; Walthall 4.1; Franklin 4.2; and Jefferson 11.8.

Union and Lafayette counties had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent each. Lafayette had 650 of 29,240 out of work, and Union had 310 out of 14,320 unemployed.

Jefferson County had the highest unemployment rate with 11.8 percent, or 210 people of its 1,770-person labor force. In contrast, Jasper County had the same number unemployed, but from a labor force of 5,690, resulting in a rate of 3.8.

Three counties each had more than 2,000 people unemployed. Harrison County had 2,480 out of work, but only a 2.9 unemployment rate due to a work force of 85,430. DeSoto County reported 2,540 out of work but had a 2.8 percent rate, due to its work force of 91,780. Hinds County had the largest unemployment number with 3,070, but this was only 3 percent of its 101,640-person labor force. These three counties have the largest work forces of any counties in the state.