September brought some good unemployment news as jobless ratesin southwest Mississippi counties fell by some noticeablepercentages, according to statistics from the MississippiEmployment Security Commission (MESC).

September brought some good unemployment news as jobless ratesin southwest Mississippi counties fell by some noticeablepercentages, according to statistics from the MississippiEmployment Security Commission (MESC).

Lincoln County’s jobless rate fell to 4.8 percent, although theeight-tenths of a point drop was not reflected in actual numbers ofpeople with jobs.

“The number of employed didn’t go up or down,” said ChandlerRuss, executive vice-president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce. “Those seeking employment went down.”

Russ said the number of people who were no longer seeking workfell from 830 to 690, and that contributed to the drop from 5.6percent to 4.8 percent. Reasons for the drop included people whohad given up looking for work, had found part-time work, possiblyin another county, or who had returned to school, Russ said.

From August to September, Lincoln County was unchanged in thestatewide ranking and held at No. 33. The county’s 4.8 rate matchedthe state average, which was good sign, Russ said.

‘”It’s just a positive outlook,” Russ said. “I think we’vealways been consistent with or slightly higher than the stateaverage.”

In the area, Lincoln County maintained the second-lowest rate.Amite County, which also had an eight-tenths of a point drop, heldonto the lowest rate at 4 percent.

Two area counties had jobless rate declines of more than twopercentage points.

Lawrence County dropped into single-digit unemployment with a2.2 percentage point decline to 9.1 percent. Also with 2.2 pointdrop was Walthall County, whose September rate stood at 7.8percent.

To the west in Franklin County, joblessness fell by more thanone percentage point. Its rate was down 1.1 points to 5.7percent.

While its rate fell a one and a half, Jefferson County still hadthe highest jobless rate in the area and in the state. ItsSeptember rate was 16 percent.

Other area counties’ rates continued to fall.

With a nine-tenths drop, Pike County had a 5.3 percent joblessrate for September. Also during the month, Copiah County saw aseven-tenths drop to 6.8 percent.

Southwest Mississippi results were similar to those around thestate as most counties saw positive changes in their jobless rates,MESC officials said. They expected October results to also bepositive.

According to totals, 33 counties either tied or were below thestate average and 15 were at or below the national average of 3.8percent. Lafayette County had the lowest jobless rate in the stateat 1.3 percent.