Alcorn County Unemployment Rises to 3.2% in September

Alcorn County unemployment rose to 3.2% in September, up from 2.9% in August, according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even with the increase, the county’s jobless rate stayed below its level of a year ago and just under the statewide rate. Tishomingo and Prentiss counties posted similar numbers.

The figures come from the bureau’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, which produces monthly estimates for every county in the country. County numbers are not adjusted for seasonal swings, and the September figures are marked preliminary, so they may be revised.

Alcorn County Unemployment by the Numbers

The bureau estimated that 441 Alcorn County residents were out of work and looking for a job in September. That is 43 more than in August but 39 fewer than in September 2025.

• Unemployment rate: 3.2% in September, compared with 2.9% in August and 3.4% a year earlier
• Unemployed residents: 441, compared with 398 in August and 480 a year earlier
• Employed residents: 13,538, compared with 13,515 in August and 13,810 a year earlier
• Labor force: 13,979, compared with 13,913 in August and 14,290 a year earlier

The monthly rise did not come from job losses. The number of county residents with jobs actually ticked up by 23 from August. The rate went up because the labor force grew faster than employment did, with more people counted as looking for work.

Tishomingo and Prentiss Counties

The neighboring counties followed the same pattern: a small increase from August, but a lower rate than a year ago.

• Tishomingo County: 3.3% in September, compared with 3.1% in August and 3.5% in September 2025. An estimated 251 residents were unemployed, 7,314 were employed, and the labor force stood at 7,565.
• Prentiss County: 3.2% in September, compared with 3.1% in August and 3.5% in September 2025. An estimated 316 residents were unemployed, 9,586 were employed, and the labor force stood at 9,902.

Prentiss County saw the largest monthly gain in workers of the three. Employment there rose by 119 from August, and the labor force grew by 130.

How the Area Compares With Mississippi

Mississippi’s unemployment rate, measured the same way as the county figures, was 3.3% in September. That compares with 3.2% in August and 3.6% in September 2025. Alcorn and Prentiss counties came in a tenth of a point below the state, and Tishomingo County matched it.

The state’s seasonally adjusted rate, the number most often quoted in headlines, was also 3.3% in September, down from 3.4% in August.

A Smaller Workforce Than Last Year

One trend stands out in the year-over-year numbers. All three counties have fewer people working, and fewer people in the labor force, than they did in September 2025.

• Alcorn County’s labor force is down 311 from a year ago, and employment is down 272.
• Tishomingo County’s labor force is down 118, and employment is down 98.
• Prentiss County’s labor force is down 292, and employment is down 254.

That means the lower jobless rates compared with last year reflect fewer people looking for work as well as fewer people unemployed. The bureau’s county estimates do not explain why a labor force shrinks. Retirements, moves and people leaving the job market can all play a part.

For earlier figures, see our report on Alcorn County unemployment in August. For recent job news, read about the DuraClass plant in Tishomingo marking 125 years.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics