JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The unemployment rate in Mississippi for December is down almost two percent from the same month in 2011,
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security says the unemployment rate was 8.6 percent.
The agency says taking seasonal jobs out of the figures raises it to 9.1 percent.
Desoto and Rankin County have the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 5.9 percent.
Clay County has the highest unemployment rate at 18.4 percent.
Lafayette (7.3), Union (7.9), and Pontotoc (8.0) County rank in the top 12.
Lee (8.8), Alcorn (9.3), Oktibbeha (9.3) and Calhoun (9.3) County are among the top 25.
