Jackson Free Press

Little changed in Mississippi's unemployment landscape in March, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Employment Security. The unemployment rate rose by a scant one-tenth of 1 percent, from 9.3 percent to 9.4 percent. Still, that rate is up by 3.3 percent from a year ago, representing more than 43,000 people.

The state paid more than $33 million in benefits during March, with an average weekly check of $192.40. Holmes County reported the highest unemployment, at 19.3 percent, and Lamar and Rankin counties tied for the lowest rates, at 6 percent. Forty-seven of Mississippi's 82 counties reported double-digit unemployment, the same number as February.

Nationally, nearly 14 million people were unemployed last month, a rate of 8.5 percent seasonally adjusted, or 9 percent unadjusted, an increase of more than 5 percent over this time last year. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this morning that 299,388 workers filed for first-time unemployment benefits, and companies reported nearly 3,000 mass layoffs last month. Manufacturing accounted for 50 percent of all new unemployment benefits coast-to-coast.