An early sign of summer arrived in May with student job-seekerscontributing to an increase in jobless rates, according to recentstatistics from the Mississippi Employment Security Commission(MESC).

An early sign of summer arrived in May with student job-seekerscontributing to an increase in jobless rates, according to recentstatistics from the Mississippi Employment Security Commission(MESC).

“As high school students looking for summer work and new collegegraduate enter the labor force in May, the unemployment ratetraditionally rises,” said Thomas Lord, MESC executive director, inresponse to the month’s 5.8 percent unemployment rate.

The state rate was up almost a full point from April’s 4.9percent. It was also almost two points above the national rate of3.9 percent for May.

Almost all southwest Mississippi counties were above the staterate in May. And yearly rate comparisons showed area counties alittle worse off to start summer 2000 than summer 1999.

Lincoln County’s rate for May 2000 was 6.1 percent, which wasgood enough for 34th in county-by-county rankings. That, however,was still 1.1 percentage points higher than May 1999’s 5percent.

Most other area counties, though, had higher percentage jumpsfor the period.

In Lawrence County, unemployment stood at 13.3 percent for May2000. That was the fifth-highest rate in the state for themonth.

The county has been hovering around 13 percent unemployment forseveral months and its May rate was 6.1 percentage points higherthan the May 1999 rate of 7.2 percent. Much of the increase hasbeen attributed to a major plant closure and Lawrence officials areworking to find new employment opportunities for citizens.

Walthall County’s jobless rate stood at 11 percent in May. Thatwas more than double its May 1999 rate of 5.4 percent.

Some other area counties saw smaller increases.

Amite County again had the lowest rate in the area for May 2000at 5 percent. That was up two-tenths from May 1999’s 4.8percent.

In Pike County, unemployment stood at 6.6 percent in May 2000.The county’s rate was up 1.5 percentage points from May 1999.

At 21.3 percent, Jefferson County again claimed the highest ratein the area and the state. Its May 2000 rate was 1.6 percentagepoints higher than in May 1999.

Two area counties managed to see decreases in May 2000 from1999.

Copiah County’s May jobless rate was down eight-tenths to 7.9percent from last year’s 8.7 percent. Franklin County had afour-tenths decrease from 8.8 percent last year to 8.4 percent thisMay.

Across the state, MESC officials said 30 counties either tied orwere better than the state rate. Fifteen counties had double-digitunemployment.

MESC officials offered a dim forecast for upcoming unemploymenttotals.

“A summer rise in unemployment is predictable,” Lord said. “Thefull brunt of student summer workers will be felt in June and Julywhen the unemployment rate can be expected to rise evenhigher.”