By David Howell

Unemployment eased up in Panola County from August to September.

The unemployment rate for September was 12.6 percent compared to 11.8 percent in August.
The latest figures from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security show that the number of people out of work is 2,100 in September compared to 1,930 in August.

The number of people employed is shown at 14,540, down from the 14,562 shown employed in August.

The labor force was constant 16,650 for both months. The labor force is defined as the estimated number of people eligible for work or actively looking for work.

The September 2011 unemployment rate is up by eight-tenths of a percentage point from the September 2010 rate of 11.8 percent.

Five years ago, in September 2006, the rate was 7.1 percent. But, the current rate is still slightly lower than the 13 percent reached in September 2009.

In comparison to the six surrounding counties, the Panola unemployment rate was less than Tunica (15.0), and Quitman (12.9), but higher than Tate (10.5), Lafayette (8.3), Yalobusha (10.8) and Tallahatchie (10.4).

Mississippi’s unadjusted unemployment rate for September was 10.6 percent, increasing five-tenths of a percentage point from the August rate of 10.1 percent.  When compared to the year ago rate of 9.9 percent, the rate increased seven-tenths of a percentage point.

For the month of September, only 23 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 10.6 percent.

Rankin County was at 6.9 percent followed by Madison County at 7.6 percent.

Eight counties reported rates greater than or equal to 15.0 percent. Clay County had the highest unemployment rate for September at 19.0 percent followed by Holmes County at 18.1 percent.