Sunflower County, a place that maintains a higher than state average unemployment figure most months, has suffered even more job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the most recent data by the Mississippi Department of Employment Statistics, the county had an unemployment rate of 14 percent during April, double the number the year prior.
The county’s unemployment percentage had actually dropped from 9.6 percent in April 2015 to 7 percent last year.
Unemployment across the state jumped exponentially as well, climbing from 4.7 percent a year ago in April to 15.6 percent this year.
The U.S. which had regular robust jobs reports over the past couple of years, jumped from 3.3 percent unemployment last April to 14.4 percent this year.
Sunflower County’s neighbors have also seen a jump, with Washington County climbing from 6.4 percent a year ago to 15.4 percent last month.
Bolivar County jumped from 5.7 percent to 10.4 percent during that time, and Leflore County had a 16.8 percent unemployment rate compared to 6.5 percent the year prior.
