Preliminary figures from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security showed 11.4 percent unemployment for the region, compared to 11.6 percent in September.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted rate was unchanged at 10.6 percent.
The nation's jobless rate was 9 percent.
Twelve of the 16 counties of Northeast Mississippi posted lower rates in October than September, based on non-seasonally adjusted numbers.
Non-seasonally adjusted figures do not take into account and adjust for seasonal trends in employment such as the school year.
MDES provides seasonally adjusted figures at national and state levels only.
Unemployment rates dropped in Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties, from where 50 percent of the workers at the newly opened Toyota plant in Blue Springs have been hired. The plant now employs about 1,700 workers.
Only four counties in the region had rates in single digits in October.
Northeast Mississippi has endured double-digit jobless rates for 32 of the past 33 months. So far this year, the rate has averaged 11.3 percent.
dennis.seid@journalinc.com





