JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi’s labor market cooled in July, with the unemployment rate ticking up and employer payrolls falling.
The jobless rate rose to 4.9 percent from 4.8 percent in June, as more people entered the labor force than found jobs. The jobless rate in July 2017 was 5.1 percent.
The number of unemployed Mississippians rose slightly to 61,000.
July’s U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent from 4 percent in June.
Although close to March’s record low, Mississippi has the fourth-highest jobless rate among states.
The payroll survey - economists’ top labor market indicator - fell by 3,000 jobs from a record high in June to 1.16 million in July. That’s 14,000 jobs above July 2017.
The U.S. Labor Department released figures Friday, adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.