Leflore County’s jobless rate rose to 13.8 percent last month but continued to improve compared to a year ago, according to figures released today by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
July’s rate was slightly higher than June’s 13.5 unemployment rate. A year ago, the July rate was 15.6 percent.
The number of unemployed this July was 280 fewer than the year before. The number of employed was down 40.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 10.1 percent, up from June’s rate of 9.8 percent but down from the July 2011 figure of 11.6 percent.
The national rate in July was 8.6 percent.
Twenty of the state’s 82 counties had rates below 10 percent, six fewer than the month before. Rankin County again was the lowest at 6.1 percent. Clay County was the highest at 18.9 percent, followed by Holmes County at 18.3 percent.
Leflore County tied with Coahoma County for the 70th best unemployment rate, one spot better than the month before.
The July rates and rankings for other nearby counties were:
• Carroll, 9.8 percent, 19th (tie).
• Grenada, 10.2 percent, 24th (tie).
• Tallahatchie, 11.9 percent, 47th (tie).
• Montgomery, 12.8 percent, 62nd.
• Sunflower, 16.0 percent, 76th.
• Humphreys, 16.7 percent, 77th.
MDES labor market data
