Manufacturing Growth in MS

Labor Data

With a civilian labor force of over 1.3 million, Mississippi offers some of the most dedicated and productive workers in the nation. Very few states can compare with Mississippi’s low 3 percent average absenteeism rate and 5 percent turnover rate among workers.

Mississippi, a right-to-work state, has less than 7 percent union membership. This compares to a national average of 13.2 percent. Wage rates are also competitive, directly corresponding to the state’s lower-than-average living and business costs. A statewide computerized job bank provides data on qualified workers for hiring considerations. All offices of the Mississippi State Employment Service have access to this data base.

Recognized as a leader in employee training programs, Mississippi offers new or expanding businesses customized employee training at little or no cost. Training is provided through the state’s community college system, at vocational-technical centers, on the company’s work site, or in specialized mobile training units.

The State’s workforce is balanced among the manufacturing, services, wholesale/retail trade, and government sectors. This diversity provides a stable economic environment. The growth of service sector employment, particularly in the areas of the telecommunications and entertainment industries, has created new opportunities for all Mississippians. Competitive manufacturing wage rates foster growth and diversification within the manufacturing sector. Average hourly earnings have continued to hold steady at roughly 75 percent of the United States average.

Mississippi’s highly productive workforce has enabled the state’s economy to progress from a rural agriculture base to manufacturing, with furniture manufacturing, electrical products, food processing, and transportation leading the way. As employers, the government and service sectors are very strong.

As a right-to-work state, Mississippi has traditionally had excellent labor/management relations. Lost work time due to strikes in the state is lower than the average for the Southeast and less than half that of the United States. The work ethic is strong in Mississippi, which is evident in the commitment the workers have to their jobs.

Mississippi Total Civilian Labor Force 1994 - 2006
Year	Civilian Labor Force (In Thousands)	Percentage Increase Since 1994
2006	1,307	3.81
2005	1,292	2.62
2004	1,340	6.43
2003	1,313	4.29
2002	1,300	3.26
2001	1,297	3.02
2000	1,323	5.09
1999	1,306	3.74
1998	1,267	0.64
1997	1,274	1.20
1996	1,261	0.16
1995	1,262	0.24
1994	1,259