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Mississippi Economy

Unemployment was 3.3% in Sep 2026, the 13th lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $52,074 per person.

Unemployment rate
3.3%
-0.4 pts in a year
Labor force
1,270,538
-1.9% in a year
Income per person
$52,074
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$53,223
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in Mississippi

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

MississippiUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodMississippi
Sep 20263.3%
Dec 20253.7%
Dec 20243.8%
Dec 20232.9%
Dec 20223.5%
Dec 20214.1%
Dec 20206.5%
Dec 20195.5%
Dec 20185.3%
Dec 20174.9%
Dec 20165.7%
Dec 20156.3%
Dec 20146.9%
Dec 20138.1%
Dec 20128.6%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in Mississippi

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1DeSoto County3.2%-0.2 pts97,666$57,305$47,958
2Hinds County3.5%-0.3 pts96,147$54,448$61,510
3Harrison County3.1%-0.3 pts92,018$50,986$50,773
4Rankin County2.5%-0.2 pts80,125$59,953$54,540
5Jackson County3.2%-0.3 pts66,203$50,536$61,859
6Madison County2.7%-0.2 pts57,654$90,668$57,463
7Lee County3.0%-0.3 pts37,354$56,315$53,348
8Forrest County3.0%-0.3 pts35,659$47,943$54,252
9Lafayette County2.4%-0.3 pts30,536$55,457$52,758
10Jones County2.5%-0.4 pts30,196$51,824$54,231
11Lamar County2.9%-0.2 pts30,067$54,455$44,605
12Lauderdale County3.5%-0.3 pts27,981$53,272$50,007
13Lowndes County3.6%-0.3 pts25,213$54,109$59,265
14Pearl River County3.2%-0.4 pts24,544$49,050$42,628
15Oktibbeha County3.2%-0.5 pts22,756$44,064$49,033
16Hancock County2.9%-0.2 pts21,876$50,489$61,887
17Warren County3.7%-0.4 pts17,919$54,294$58,593
18Washington County4.6%-0.2 pts15,566$50,860$45,627
19Lincoln County3.5%-0.3 pts14,115$50,714$45,959
20Marshall County3.9%-0.4 pts14,029$48,141$49,875
21Alcorn County3.2%-0.2 pts13,979$48,741$48,130
22Pike County4.0%-0.6 pts13,945$42,327$43,446
23Union County2.7%-0.3 pts12,837$44,305$55,517
24Monroe County4.1%-0.6 pts12,473$46,700$53,622
25Tate County3.2%-0.5 pts12,178$48,572$45,136
All 82 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in Mississippi

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance146,539+3.2%$54,241
Manufacturing138,766-1.8%$65,815
Retail trade137,934-0.6%$34,736
Accommodation and food services125,455+0.1%$22,899
Administrative and support services65,775-0.9%$40,185
Transportation and warehousing61,520-0.4%$56,705
Construction53,778+6.3%$70,949
Professional and technical services41,729+3.6%$76,599
Wholesale trade36,454-0.7%$78,661
Finance and insurance33,988+1.9%$79,676
Other services22,472+0.2%$48,494
Educational services12,973+3.7%$45,315
Management of companies11,504+2.4%$108,737
Real estate and rental11,467-0.1%$51,643
Arts, entertainment and recreation10,706+4.0%$23,825
Agriculture, forestry and fishing10,392-5.4%$52,241
Information9,465-0.4%$69,702
Utilities8,632+3.8%$100,763
Mining, oil and gas3,111-3.0%$93,005

Government employs 230,591 people (19.7% of all jobs): 26,505 federal, 53,278 state and 150,808 local.

Output and businesses in Mississippi

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$158B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+3.3%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
60,465
956,079 employees
  • Retail trade11,30318.7%
  • Health care and social assistance7,03811.6%
  • Other services6,52310.8%
  • Accommodation and food services6,30110.4%
  • Professional and technical services4,6217.6%
  • Finance and insurance4,5197.5%
  • Construction4,1696.9%
  • Real estate and rental2,5264.2%
  • Wholesale trade2,5124.2%
  • Administrative and support services2,5104.2%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Mississippi?
Mississippi's unemployment rate was 3.3% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in Mississippi has the highest unemployment?
Jefferson County has the highest rate at 8.3%, and Lafayette County has the lowest at 2.4% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in Mississippi?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 146,539 jobs, followed by manufacturing (138,766) and retail trade (137,934).
What is the average salary in Mississippi?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in Mississippi was $53,223 in 2025, or $1,024 a week.
How big is Mississippi's economy?
Mississippi's GDP was $158B in 2024, about $53,751 per resident.