Lincoln County unemployment below national rate, at state average

Published 9:00 am Friday, October 30, 2026

Getting your

The unemployment rate for Lincoln County has dropped below the national rate, and tied the state percentage.

Lincoln County saw 458 individuals unemployed for the month of August — 3.2 percent of the 14,094-strong labor force. Statewide, 40,568 people (3.2%) were out of work from a labor force of more than 1.25 million. Nationally, 7.38 million potential workers (4.3%) were unemployed from a labor force in excess of 170 million.

Mississippi’s labor pool grew by 3,200 from July. The national pool grew by 167,000.

Lincoln County had 612 people (4.3%) of 14,227 out of work in July, and 600 (4.2%) of 14,271 unemployed in June. The numbers reflect a lower percentage, but also a smaller labor pool.

The five-year unemployment rate comparison annually in August for the county is: 5.5 in 2021; 4.2 in 2022; 4.1 in 2023; 3.7 in 2024; and 4.3 in 2025.

Other Southwest Mississippi counties had the following August unemployment rates: Lawrence and Jefferson Davis, 3.2; Walthall, 3.4; Copiah, 3.5; Amite, 3.7; Pike, 3.8; Franklin, 4; and Jefferson, 9.1.

Rankin County (tied w...