Unemployment rates continued to remain flat for the month of October as the nation continues to move what economists consider full employment, according to the latest labor market report by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
In the Golden Triangle area, all four counties showed small decreases over the past month and compared to October 2017 with the exception of Oktibbeha, where the jobless rate was 0.1 percent higher in October than in October 2017.
Meanwhile, the nation’s unemployment rate continues on its remarkably low trend, with a rate of just 3.5 percent. Economist consider unemployment rates at 4 percent or lower as full employment.
The number of unemployed people in Mississippi decreased by 4,100 over the month, while the employed total decreased 2,200 from the prior month. Mississippi’s non-farm employment increased 5,700 over the month and was 13,700 higher than one year ago.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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