Mississippi hits 2.6% unemployment

Governor Tate Reeves today announced that Mississippi reached a new record low in the state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. The state hit a historic low of 2.6% in November 2023, according to data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

“Records were made to be broken, and that’s what Mississippi continues to do,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “With historic lows in unemployment, more Mississippians are working good jobs across the state. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together and look forward to keeping the momentum going in 2024.”

The new record low follows a series of wins for Mississippi. The state hit an all-time low seasonally adjusted unemployment rate five times since March 2023. Mississippi was recognized as a top five state for high-quality pre-K. Additionally, Mississippi’s high school graduation rate is currently at an all-time high, and the state is leading the nation in fourth grade reading and math gains. Mississippi was also recognized as a top ten state for doing business in 2023.

Additionally, in 2022, Mississippi set a record in new private capital investment when it finalized over $6 billion in new economic development projects. This includes the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history, a $2.5 billion investment that will create 1,000 jobs with an average annual salary of almost $100,000.

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s Labor Market Data report for November 2023 can be found here.