Mississippi has experienced yet another record-low unemployment rate, Gov. Tate Reeves announced on Friday.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Mississippi’s unemployment rate reached 2.8% in April — the lowest percentage ever seen by the state. Reeves attributed gains the state has amassed in education and private investments made earlier this year as a driving force for the drop in the unemployment rate.
Mississippi was recently recognized as a top five state for quality pre-kindergarten education. The Magnolia State’s high school graduation rate is currently at an all-time high and ranks above the national average. Mississippi also led the nation in fourth-grade reading and math gains, per Reeves.
Earlier this year, Mississippi set a record for new private sector investment in a year when it finalized approximately $12 billion in new economic development projects. This includes the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history, a $10 billion private sector investment by Amazon Web Services that will create 1,000 jobs. The other major investment is a $1.9 million EV battery plant coming to Marshall County.
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“If you want to work, there’s a job for you in Mississippi,” Reeves said. “We have record-shattering private sector investment and thousands of new high-paying jobs coming to our state, which is helping to drive down unemployment to record lows. I’m incredibly proud of all the hardworking Mississippians across the state for making this possible. This is another major win for Mississippi.”
Mississippi began seeing steep declines in unemployment rates in March 2023 when the state reached 3.5% unemployed. The trend has continued into 2024.
