Calhoun County unemployment remains on pace to finish the year at its lowest level since 2000, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
Calhoun’s unemployment rates for June and July increased slightly to 6.5% and 6.7% respectively. July’s rate matched January for the highest of the year, but over the seven months of 2016 the county is still averaging only 5.9%.
Among the surrounding counties, Pontotoc 5.2, Grenada 5.7 and Lafayette 6.1 were lower than Calhoun, while Webster 6.7, Yalobusha 7.1 and Chickasaw 8.0 were higher.
The statewide unemployment rate was 6.5% in July while the national rate was 5.1%.