Department of Numbers

Hattiesburg, Mississippi Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Hattiesburg fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Mississippi rate. The unemployment rate in Hattiesburg peaked in April 2020 at 12.4% and is now 9.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in June 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Hattiesburg unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Mississippi 3.2% 0.0 -0.8
Hattiesburg 2.8% 0.0 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, National

Hattiesburg, Mississippi monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Hattiesburg peaked in April 2020 at 7,894. There are now 5,940 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,908 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 46. Hattiesburg employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Hattiesburg 1,954 -5 -420

Number of Unemployed Persons

Hattiesburg, Mississippi Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Mississippi
Unemployment Rate
Hattiesburg
Unemployment Rate
Hattiesburg
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.3%
September
2023
3.8% 3.2% 2.8% 1,954
August
2023
3.8% 3.2% 2.8% 1,959
July
2023
3.5% 3.0% 2.8% 1,908
June
2023
3.6% 3.1% 2.8% 1,952
May
2023
3.7% 3.2% 2.9% 2,011
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.0% 2,082
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.1% 2,160
February
2023
3.6% 3.7% 3.2% 2,214
January
2023
3.4% 3.9% 3.4% 2,305
December
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.5% 2,382
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.5% 2,386

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.