Pike County’s unemployment rate hit double digits in July, according to information from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
According state statistics, Pike County’s July unemployment rate was 11.2 percent, 1.4 percent more than its 9.8 unemployment rate for June.
The state’s unemployment rate hit 10.5 percent in July, which was .6 percent above the June rate of 9.9 percent.
According to state figures, Pike County reported a labor force of 16,180 people with 14,370 working and 1,810 unemployed.
Amite County had the lowest unemployment rate of the six counties surrounding Pike County, with 10.5 percent, up .1 percent from its 10.4 percent June rate.
Amite County reported a 5,380-person work force with 4,820 working and 560 unemployed.
Lincoln County was the only county of the seven area counties to have a drop in unemployment, while Wilkinson County had the highest unemployment rate of the area.
Lincoln County’s 10.9 unemployment rate was .2 percent lower than its June rate of 11.1 percent.
The county reported a labor force of 14,510 people with 12,930 working and 1,580 unemployed.
Wilkinson had a 13.5 percent unemployment rate, 1.7 percent higher than its June figure of 11.8 percent. The county reported a labor force of 3,760 people with 3,250 people employed and 510 reported as unemployed.
Among the other counties adjacent to Pike County:
• Franklin County’s unemployment rate was 11.7 percent, .1 percent more than the 11.6 percent reported in June.
The county reported a 3,340-person work force with 2,950 people working and 390 unemployed.
• Lawrence County had a 12.2 percent unemployment rate, which was 1 percent more than its June rate of 11.2 percent, with a labor force of 5,610 people with 4,920 employed and 690 unemployed.
• Walthall County’s unemployment rate was 12.4 percent, which was .8 percent higher than the June figure of 11.6.
Walthall reported a labor force of 6,550 people with 5,740 employed and 810 listed as unemployed.
