[12/2/04]About 1,500 people, or 6 percent, of Warren County’s work force was unemployed during the month of October, data released from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security shows.

That figure was up from 5.1 percent last month and reflected 1,260 residents seeking but unable to find jobs.

The increase is due to more people looking for holiday work, said Wayne Gasson, chief of labor force market for the state’s employment office.

“This is mostly people looking for seasonal and part-time work during Christmas,” Gasson said. “Usually, the number decreases in November when people begin to hire for the Christmas season.”

He said the increase is a trend that has been taking place for about six years.

The data showed 23,820 people are employed in Warren County from a workforce of 25,330. In September, 23,670 were employed from a work force of 24,930.

The state’s unemployment rate rose from 5.7 in September to 6.5 percent in October.

That increase was blamed on layoffs and workers re-entering the work force, according to a report issued by the state’s employment security office.

Around Vicksburg, unemployment rates rose in Claiborne and Sharkey counties.

In Claiborne, the rate rose from 12.7 percent in September to 14 percent in October.

In Sharkey County, the rate rose from 10.3 percent to 11.7.

Issaquena improved with 9 percent jobless in September and 7.6 percent in October.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was up to 5.5 percent in October from 5.4 in September.

Of Mississippi’s 82 counties, the unemployment rate increased in 78. Noxubee County had the highest unemployment rate at 18.2 percent, and Lamar County had the lowest rate with 3.3 percent.