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JOB WATCH 2012: MUST KNOW FACTS FROM A YEAR OF JOB NUMBERS

January 2nd, 2013

Throughout the year MEPC’s blog covers monthly updates to state and national employment. 2012 has been a year of slow progress for Mississippi’s workers, and the numbers below highlight the status of the state’s job market and workforce. 

800 – The number of jobs Mississippi’s workforce added since one year ago. Mississippi continued to add jobs at a much slower pace than the nation in 2012. Overall, Mississippi is still tens of thousands of jobs short of 2007 employment levels.

7.3% – The unemployment rate for the Southern region at the end of 2012. The Southern rate is lower than Mississippi’s which registered at 8.5% during the same period. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee all registered unemployment rates lower than the state at the end of the year.

57 – The number of months since Mississippi entered a period of economic decline and job loss in early 2008. Data for the University Research Center shows that Mississippi’s employment is at 94% of its former peak and still years away from full recovery.

5.3% – The portion of Mississippi workers that have been unemployed 15 weeks or longer, or over 3 months. Mississippi has a larger percentage of long-term unemployed than seen nationally. The rate underscores the large portion of workers that are experiencing significant economic insecurity due to prolonged job loss.

4,084 – The number of adults working as Medical Aids that are low-income and do not receive health insurance through their employer. Mississippi has one of the lowest rates of working adults covered by employer sponsored health insurance.¹ An analysis by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy shows the jobs of thousands of working adults that do not currently have health insurance and are low income.