Unemployment rate down 1.3 percent

The unemployment rate in Webster County is unofficially down from the previous month but is still higher than a year ago.

For November, the county had 12.9 percent unemployment; according to information provided by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. In October the unemployment rate was 14.2 but in November 2008 was at 9.1 percent.

Mississippi's unemployment rate for November was 9 percent compared with 9.5 in October. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted rate in November was 9.4, compared to 9.5 in October.

Only 23 counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than or equal to the state's rate of 9 percent in November. Unemployment rates decreased over the month in all but two counties.

Forty-three of Mississippi's 82 counties reported double-digit rates for the month with five counties reporting rates greater than or equal to 15 percent.

Around the state, Rankin County had the lowest unemployment rate at 5.9 and Clay County had the highest at 17.8.

In additional to Clay, jobless rates in bordering counties were 11.4 percent in Choctaw, 13 in Montgomery, 11.7 in Grenada, 8.6 in Calhoun, 12.9 in Chickasaw and 8 in Oktibbeha.

Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment losses for November in Mississippi were government jobs, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality.