Unemployment decreased slightly in October in Pearl River County.

Pearl River County’s unemployment rate was ranked 21st out of 82 counties in the state during October, compared to September’s ranking of 26th.

According to information released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Pearl River County’s unemployment rate for the month of October was 5.6 percent, which is the same rate as September’s.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Mississippi in October was 5.9 percent, a decrease from September’s revised rate of 6.1 percent. In October of 2014, Mississippi’s adjusted unemployment rate was 7.3 percent.

Nationwide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 5 percent.

A year ago in October, the nationwide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7 percent.

Seasonally adjusted rates factor in patterns such as weather, holidays, school schedules and other occurrences that affect employment rates. Only nationwide and statewide percentages are adjusted.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for October was unchanged over the month at 5.9 percent, the report states.

Mississippi’s unadjusted rate for October 2014 was 7.2 percent.

Nationwide, the unadjusted unemployment rate in October was 4.8 percent, decreasing slightly from September’s rate of 4.9 percent. In October of the previous year, the unadjusted unemployment rate in the United States was 5.5 percent.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, 29 reported unemployment rates at or below the statewide-unadjusted average of 5.9 percent. Rankin County again reported the lowest unemployment with 3.8 percent, followed by Madison County with 4.2 percent.

Issaquena County reported the highest unemployment for October at 11.9 percent followed by Jefferson County at 11.5 percent.

According to the report, in October the number of jobs in Mississippi increased by 200 from September and showed an increase of 8,300 jobs from October 2014. This number is based on a survey of Mississippi employers.

Jones County’s unemployment was also 5.6 percent, the same as Pearl River County’s.