Lincoln County’s unemployment rate is the lowest since November 2007, according to data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. 

Lincoln County’s rate for the last reported period, March 2015, was 5.5 percent following a downward trend starting in January. The county’s rate hasn’t been lower since its rate of 5.4 in November 2007. The county’s rate remains lower than the state’s average of 6.2 percent.

Earlier this year, Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Garrick Combs wondered whether the downward trend would continue over the next few months. Combs said that the county’s rate, at a low of 6.8 then, was possibly due to the increase in seasonal jobs around the Christmas holidays.

That proved true as the unemployment rate rose to 7 percent after the holidays in January. However, since then, more Lincoln County residents are finding employment than in the past five years.

“Like we left it, we were excited and hoped that the trend would continue. Fortunately it looks like the data is trending toward more Lincoln County residents finding employment,” Combs said.

He said the county has seen job growth since the end of 2014, crediting American Railroad Industries with providing jobs to residents. He said it seems local businesses are adding to their payrolls.

“We’re very happy,” Combs said. “We’ve seen signs throughout the core sector, such as industrial and healthcare, that we’re on a sustained path on getting numbers as low as possible. Of course, sooner or later you’ll hit a bottom. Let’s hope it’s a long way away, and we can get as close to 0 as possible.”

Brookhaven WIN Job Center Manager Dana Hester said the county experienced the normal Christmas layoff around December but since the New Year they’ve seen more businesses hiring. She credits a lot of new hires to Wal-Mart, Delphi and other manufacturing organizations.

The Job Center is a part of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and offers services for individuals looking for employment as well as services for employers looking to add to their labor force.

Hester said services for those looking for jobs include job placement services and counselors who are available to help. She said this system is online as well as through an app, MSWorks, available for both Apple and Android devices.