JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - More Mississippians were on employer payrolls in August than ever before.
The number of people on payrolls - economists’ top labor market indicator - grew to a record 1.17 million in August, up 4,000 jobs from July. That’s nearly 19,000 jobs above August 2017. The previous payroll record was set in June.
The state’s jobless rate was flat at 4.8 percent from July to August, with additional people finding jobs at the same rate as the labor force grew. The jobless rate a year ago was 5 percent.
The number of unemployed Mississippians rose slightly to 62,000.
August’s U.S. unemployment rate was level at 3.9 percent from July. Mississippi has the fourth-highest jobless rate among states.
The U.S. Labor Department released figures Friday, adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.