Lincoln County’s unemployment rate rose slightly in July butstill remained the lowest in southwest Mississippi, according torecent statistics from the Mississippi Employment SecurityCommission (MESC).

The county’s 6.8 percent rate was up three-tenths of a point.That was four-tenths below the state’s 7.2 percent, which was downsix-tenths from June, and half a point higher than the nationalaverage of 6.3 percent.

“We had more people working and more people looking for workthan at any other time in the year,” said Chandler Russ, executivevice-president of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber ofCommerce.

Russ said the civilian labor force grew from 14,520 in June to14,640 in July.

Of those totals, 990 in July were listed as unemployed, up from950 in June. The number of employed was up to 13,650 in Julycompared to 13,570 in June.

“The good news is there’s more people employed. The bad news isthere’s more people continuing to look for work,” Russ said.

Russ attributed the job loss differences to outside pressuresfrom surrounding counties such as Adams and Amite.

“We’ve had nothing but growth and expansion of our manufacturingbase” in Lincoln County, Russ said. He said the chamber planned tocontinue efforts to meet employment needs of the region and thoseseeking jobs.

Lincoln County, which placed 23rd in county-by-county rankings,was the only area county to see an increase during July. Mostothers were down by almost a full percentage point or more.

To the south, Pike County’s July jobless rate remained unchangedat 7 percent. That was second-lowest in the area.

Lawrence County posted the smallest decrease, falling two-tenthsof a point to 9.4 percent.

In Copiah County, the unemployment total fell eight-tenths to7.9 percent while Walthall County’s rate was down nine-tenths to8.7 percent.

Three area counties, Franklin, Amite and Jefferson, experiencedrate declines of more than one percentage point. Franklin andJefferson, however, still had double-digit rates for July.

Franklin County’s rate dropped 1.2 percentage points to 11.6percent. Jefferson County’s total fell 1.6 percentage points to21.6 percent, which was again the highest rate in the state.

MESC Executive Director Curt Thompson said 29 counties had rateslower than the state average. Rankin County posted the lowest rateat 3.6 percent.

Thirty-six counties experienced double-digit jobless rates.

Thompson said improved economic conditions could be reflected inAugust totals as student job seekers return to school.