Facts

• The Greater Jackson Area (GJA Partners region) has a population of 540,213 and a civilian labor force of 267,585​​.
• The unemployment rate in the Greater Jackson region was 2.7% as of September 2023​​.
• Mississippi is a Right to Work state, which permits individual workers to choose whether or not they wish to join a labor union
• Mississippi was ranked 15th for the lowest unionization rates in the U.S.
• Greater Jackson has 8 colleges/universities and 3 community colleges, with a total of approximately 6000 graduates per year.
• This region has a hidden workforce of approximately 40,445 residents, consisting of the under-employed, the not-employed who want to work, residents working part-time but wanting full-time employment, and recent college graduates.

Employment Trends

As of 2021Q4, total employment for the Greater Jackson Region was 270,659 (based on a four-quarter moving average). Over the year ending 2021Q4, employment increased 2.1% in the region.

Wage Trends

Average annual wages in the GJA Partners region were $52,745 as of 2023Q2, with a 4.9% increase over the previous year.

For comparison, annual average wages were $70,318 in the nation as of 2021Q4.

Industry Snapshot