Pearl River County’s unemployment rate fell in May, but the reduction was slight.

Inf April, the county’s unemployment rate was 10.8 percent and dropped to 10.6 percent in May, according to figures presented in a Mississippi Department of Employment Security release.

A year ago in May, Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was slightly higher, at 10.9 percent, the release states.

Mississippi’s statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also decreased slightly in May to 10.3, a minor decrease from April’s figure of 10.4 percent. Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from April’s figure of 9 percent to 9.1 percent in May. A year ago the rate was 9.6 percent, the release states.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates take into consideration seasonal patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and any other regularly occurring events.

Unadjusted unemployment rates show Mississippi’s rate stayed the same between April and May at 10 percent. A year ago, the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate was 10.4 percent, the release states. Nationally, the unadjusted unemployment rate also remained the same between April and May, 8.7 percent. That figure is a decrease from 9.3 percent a year ago.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rate for May were Rankin with 6.1 percent and Madison with 6.9 percent. Tunica County reported the highest unemployment rate for May, 31.1 percent, Claiborne County reported 17.6 percent, the release states.