Panola’s jobless rate dips for month of October

By Rita Howell
Panola County’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.6 percent in September to 6.1 percent in October, according to figures released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security last week. The rate is a full percentage point lower than the same time last year, the report showed.
The county still lags behind five of its neighbors, with only Quitman County reporting a higher jobless rate, 6.8. Rates for the other contiguous counties are: Lafayette, 3.5; Yalobusha, 4.8; Tallahatchie, 4.0; Tunica, 4.7; Tate, 4.6.
Panola ranks 68th among the 82 counties, with Lamar County reporting the lowest unemployment rate, 3.3, and Jefferson County at the bottom of the list with 10.3 percent jobless.
The state’s jobless rate for October was 4.4 percent, while the U.S. rate was 3.9.
The MDES reported that Panola had a labor force of 12,990 for October, with 12,200 employed and 790 jobless. The figures reflect those currently seeking employment.
Last October Panola’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent. Five years ago, in October, 2012, the rate was 12.2.