By Rita Howell
Panola County’s unemployment rate for July was 7.9 percent, an improvement from the previous month’s rate of 8.2 percent, according to the latest report from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

The state’s average was 6.5 and the nation’s rate was 5.1 for July.

Last July the county’s jobless rate was 9.2 percent, and five years ago, 14.0
Panola is ranked 52nd among the state’s 82 counties. Rankin has the best rate, 4.1 percent, and Jefferson has the worst, 18.5.

Compared with the six surrounding counties, Panola has a higher rate than Tunica (7.5), Tate (6.3), Lafayette (6.1), Yalobusha (7.1) and Tallahatchie (72), and lower than Quitman (10.7).
MDES figures show that Panola has an estimated workforce of 13,700, with 12,610 employed in July, and 1,090 unemployed.