Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Unemployment rate
1990–2024BLS state series.
Employment
Mississippi had about 1.17 million nonfarm jobs in 2024.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED MSNA).
- •Manufacturing, healthcare and government are among Mississippi's largest employment sectors.
Unemployment
Mississippi's unemployment rate was about 3.3% in 2024, near a historic low for the state.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average of seasonally adjusted months (FRED MSUR).
- •Mississippi's unemployment rate hit record lows in the mid-2020s despite its low labor force participation.
Labor Force
Mississippi's civilian labor force totaled roughly 1.24 million workers in 2024.
Civilian labor force
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED MSLF).
- •Mississippi has one of the smallest labor forces relative to population among U.S. states.
Occupations
Office and administrative support roles make up the largest occupational group in Mississippi at about 13%.
Workers in management, business, science and arts occupations
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian employed 16+, C24010 (2020 not released).
- •Manufacturing production occupations are a major employer in Mississippi's Gulf Coast and central regions.
Salaries
The median annual wage in Mississippi is about $39,100, the lowest in the nation.
Average weekly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU28000000500000011).
Average hourly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU28000000500000003).
| Indicator | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | 39100 | 48060 |
- •Mississippi has had the lowest median wage of any U.S. state for most of the past decade.
Remote Work
About 8.4% of Mississippi workers work primarily from home, well below the national average.
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Work from home (%) | 8.4 | 13.8 |
Workforce Participation
Mississippi's labor force participation rate is about 54.6%, the lowest in the nation.
Labor force participation rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED LBSSA28).
- •Mississippi has recorded the lowest labor force participation rate of any U.S. state for years.