By Rupert Howell
Unemployment for Panola remains at 10.8 percent for October although continued unemployment claims have dropped, according to figures of the Mississippi Employment Security Commission.

The labor force in Panola is estimated at 14,740 with 13,150 of those employed for October resulting in the 10.8 percent or 1,590 unemployment rate. The October figure is the lowest October rate since 2008 when it was 8.6. Last year’s October unemployment was 11.2 and in 2011 it peaked at 13 percent.

Initial claims for Panola in October were 124, which combined with 1,248 continued unemployment claims. Figures for October 2012 reveal 171 initial claims along with 1,696 continued claims.

Unemployment benefits were down to $335,580 from $356,447 in September and $487,543 in October of 2012.

Figures for September, 2013 reveal that although initial claims have jumped from 115, October numbers of continued claims declined from 1,312.

In comparison, Panola’s figures are generally lower than neighboring Delta counties and higher than adjacent Hill counties.

Panola’s unemployment percentage of 10.8 compared favorably to neighboring Tunica-11.5, Quitman-12.1, Tallahatchie-10.8, but less favorably to Tate-8.5,Lafayette-5.9 and Yalobusha-8.7.
Mississippi’s unadjusted unemployment rate for October 2013 was 8.2 percent, decreasing four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s rate of 8.6 percent. When compared to the October 2012 rate of 8.7 percent, the rate decreased five-tenths of a percentage point.
The number of unemployed decreased 5,500 over the month, while the employed total decreased 11,300 from the prior month. The nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate for October 2013 at 7 percent was unchanged over the month, and was half a percentage point below the year ago rate of 7.5 percent.

For the month of October 2013, only twenty-four counties in Mississippi posted unemployment rates less than the state’s rate of 8.2 percent.