State employment flat. What are economists predicting?: Mississippi Marketplace

By Katherine Lin | Originally published by Mississippi Today

Little growth forecasted for 2027

In June, state unemployment remained unchanged for the fourth month in a row and year over year, at 3.8%. 

State economist Corey Miller said this is a continuation of the no-hire, no-fire job market of the past few months. Miller said there was a lot of hiring coming out of the pandemic but with ongoing economic uncertainty, businesses are likely reluctant to hire right now. 

Mississippi’s seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate, currently at 55.2%, is the lowest it’s been in two years. This follows national trends – the U.S. labor force participation rate in June of 61.5% was the lowest it’s been in five years. 

Looking forward, new estimates from the University Research Center and the state economist predict little change in employment for 2026 and a little growth in 2027 in Mississippi and nationally. 

According to the center, employment in Mississippi grew an average of 1.3% each year from 2021 to 2025. It predicts that employment will decrease by an average of 0.1% each year between 2026 and 2030. 

The state GDP follows similar patterns and predictions with growth slowing from 2.5% in the previous five years to 1.3% forecast over the next five.

Miller said that while it’s a downshift, the state remains a little ahead of where it was with GDP prior to the pandemic. These forecasts reflect some continued economic uncertainty in regards to tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran. 

Golden Triangle LINK

The Golden Triangle LINK, a regional partnership between Oktibbeha, Lowndes and Clay counties, has been nationally lauded for bringing new companies and economic development to northeast Mississippi.

But Oktibbeha County is reassessing its relationship with the regional economic development organization. In June, the Oktibbeha Board of Supervisors served the LINK a two-year notice that it could terminate its contract in 2028. 

The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill have expressed concerns over the LINK’s leadership turnover during the past year and less development being brought to Oktibbeha. In August of  2025, the LINK abruptly fired longtime CEO Joe Max Higgins, citing “workplace behavior and speech.” His successor, who was brought in from outside the organization, stayed less than four months. 

The organization is now led by Meryl Fisackerly who previously served as the LINK’s chief operating officer. At a July 13 meeting, Fisackerly talked to the board about the challenges and opportunities in the Oktibbeha County, and the board president expressed optimism about moving forward. He also clarified that the board was not upset with the LINK but rather was taking “an opportunity to have a conversation.”

Other news:

• Aluminum Dynamics is investing $200M in Lowndes County to build a recycled aluminum slab plant. The company has already invested $2 billion on an aluminum rolling plant in the county. 
• A new tenant has signed a lease for the former Levi’s building in Gluckstadt. MEI Industrial Solutions provides industrial services such as rigging and machinery moving. The Levi’s distribution center operated from 1981 until Deember 2024, and has sat vacant since. 
• Some say that as goes Jackson, so goes Mississippi. If so, there are some positive signs in downtown Jackson. Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, one of the state’s largest law firms, renewed its lease in downtown for 15 years. A new collaboration between three Mississippi universities and Downtown Jackson Partners will give students an opportunity to work on projects tied to downtown’s revitalization from a studio close to the Governor’s Mansion.
• Siemens Energy broke ground on a new $300 million factory in Rankin County where it will manufacture high-voltage switchgears that are used on electric grids.
• The University of Mississippi Medical Center will take over the Greenwood Leflore Hospital on Aug. 1. The Delta hospital has faced years of financial challenges and filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  
• SIP Manufacturing, a beverage manufacturing company, is coming to Southaven. The California-based company said it is investing $100 million to establish operations and will create 187 jobs.

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article