Lincoln County Unemployment: More people available to work, but more without jobs, also – Daily Leader

Lincoln County’s work force is larger, but the unemployment rate is, too.

The county’s most recent unemployment rate is slightly better than the state average, at 2.8 percent. In May, 400 people were without work, from a total work force of 14,520. In April, 250 were without work from a pool of 14,400 (1.8 percent). 

In May 2023, the county had 400 people jobless from a work force of 14,420 — 2.8 percent. The 2023 and 2024 May rates of 2.8 are the lowest for the month of any of the recent years, back to 2019. In that time, rates ranged from 3.4 in 2022 to 5.2 in 2019. Amid the 2020 global COVID pandemic, however, the rate reached 10.7.

The 12-month averages for Lincoln County show 430 people (3 percent) unemployed from a labor force of 14,360.

Mississippi’s work force grew by approximately 1,500 from April to May, and more than 12,000 from one year earlier. Statewide, the unemployment rate in May was 2.9, with 35,600 people unemployed from a total labor force of 1,244,200.

Across the U.S., the work force has grown by more than 2.75 million in the past year. The May 2024 unemployment rate was 3.7, with 6.235 million people unemployed from a total labor force of 167.576 million.

Union County once again had the lowest percentage of unemployed, at 1.9 percent, representing 280 people. The lowest number of employed persons in a county was in Issaquena — 20 people, but ranking at 5.2 percent.

The county with the highest unemployment rate was Jefferson County at 11.3 percent, or 210 people. The highest number of individuals out of work in a single county was in Hinds — 2,870 people, or 2.8 percent of that county’s workforce.

Counties bordering Lincoln County had the following unemployment rates for May: Copiah, 3.2; Lawrence, 3.3; Pike, 3.4; Walthall, 3.6; Amite and Franklin, 3.7 each.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines an individual as employed if they are age 16 or older and did any work at all for pay or profit during the surveyed week — including all part-time and temporary work. 

Unemployed individuals are those who do not have a job, but have actively looked for work during the previous four weeks, and are currently available for work. These two groups together make up the labor force. Full-time students, active duty members of the Armed Forces, and those in institutions are not included.