JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Unemployment rates fell from October to November in all but one of Mississippi's 82 counties, according to figures released Thursday. Jobless rates also fell from November 2011 in 81 counties.
Issaquena County was the exception, with the jobless rate rising to 13.8 percent, up from October and last year.
Rankin County's 4.6 percent remained the lowest jobless rate. Clay County's 16.1 percent remained highest.
Most counties saw unemployment fall because fewer people sought work. The number of people telling surveyors they had jobs fell in 53 counties. In larger counties, employment grew only in Forrest and Lamar counties.
County-level rates aren't adjusted to cancel out predictable seasonal changes.
Seasonally adjusted, the state's jobless rate fell to 8.5 percent in November from October's 9 percent. November 2011's rate was 10.6 percent.
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