JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Amid a national slump in job growth, it appears that Mississippi is not immune to its effects.
According to state data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES), the unemployment rate in the Jackson metro and statewide increased slightly between June and July. But the impact of employment in Mississippi goes beyond a few tenths of a percentage point in Mississippi. According to WalletHub, the state’s roughly 36% jump in unemployment was the 11th highest jump nationally over the last week.
Though the state’s labor force has increased since 2024, so has its unemployment rate. The average unemployment rate in 2024 was 3.2%; so far in 2025, it is 4%, a 25% increase overall. Compared to 2024, there are about 31% more unemployment claims statewide…