By Rita Howell
The unemployment rate for Panola County dropped from 11.1 percent in July to 9.6 percent in August, according to the latest figures from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Still, Panola is ranked 60th out of the 82 counties as more people across the state found work. The state’s jobless rate for August was 7.4 percent, dropping from 8.6 percent for July. Nationally, the unemployment rate for August was 6.3 percent.

The MDES estimates that Panola County has a labor force of 14,210, with 12,940 employed in August, and 1,370 reportedly out of work.

A year ago Panola’s unemployment rate was 10.7 Five years ago, in August, 2009, Panola’s jobless rate was 12.3 percent.

In comparison to the six surrounding counties, the Panola   unemployment rate was more than Tate (9.5), Lafayette (5.7), Yalobusha (8.7), Tallahatchie (8.6), and less than Quitman (11.4) and Tunica (15.3).