January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Mississippi Employment Snapshot
In January, Mississippi added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 16,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Mississippi’s private sector added 4,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,400 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Mississippi rose by 1,177, and over the past 12 months it rose by 24,427.
Mississippi’s labor force participation rate rose to 55.9 percent in January from 55.8 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1.3 percentage points.
Mississippi Payroll Employment
Mississippi added 4,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,700 jobs. Mississippi nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Mississippi added 4,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,400 jobs. Mississippi private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Construction (1,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (-200) and Financial Activities (-600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-300) and Manufacturing (-400).
Mississippi Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Mississippi rose to 55.9 percent in January from 55.8 percent in the prior month.
Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.