By Rita Howell
Unemployment in Panola County decreased slightly in January, according to figures released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Securities. The county’s estimated rate of 9.2 reflected an improvement over December’s jobless rate of 9.5 percent.
The state’s unemployment rate was 7 percent, and the U.S. jobless rate was 5.3 percent.
The MDES reports that Panola had an estimated labor force of 13,890 in January, with 12,620 employed and 1,270 unemployed.
In comparison with the six surrounding counties, Panola’s January unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was higher than Tate (7.4), Lafayette (6.3) and Yalobusha (7.9), and lower than Tallahatchie and Tunica (both 10) and Quitman (12.5).
Panola’s jobless rate ranks 61st out of 82 counties, with Rankin posting the lowest rate, 4.7, and Issaquena the highest, 22.4.