Mississippi’s Unemployment Rate Increases, Highest In The Nation

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi’s unemployment rate continued to go in the wrong direction in July, remaining the highest in the nation.

The jobless rate rose to 8 percent in July, the third straight monthly increase, as the number of people reporting they had a job fell faster than the labor force.

Mississippi’s unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in June, but is below the 8.7 percent rate registered in July 2013.

A separate survey shows employer payrolls rose slightly. Nicole Webb, a spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Bryant, says that’s a positive development.

Both sets of figures – adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes – were released Monday by the U.S. Labor Department.

The report found 101,200 Mississippians were unemployed in July, up fewer than 1,000 from June but down from 111,200 in July 2013.