Joblessness in Warren County ticked downward in April — the third straight drop in local unemployment since the start of the year.

Local unemployment was 11.1 percent for the month, down from an adjusted 11.7 percent in March, according to figures released Wednesday by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Both months reflect slight dips from February and January, when rates were 12.4 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively.

Statewide, joblessness was down half a percent during April, to 10.7 percent from 11.2 percent in March. National unemployment stood at 9.5 percent, down from a revised 10.2 percent in March. Adjusted for seasonal factors in the work force, the state’s rate becomes 11.5 percent and the national rate 9.9 percent.

The countywide labor pool shrank to 22,010 from 22,140, but actual figures for employed and unemployed people showed improvement during the month. Steady success from the STEPS program, which seeks work and then pays wages and benefits up to six months for the recently unemployed, was credited for the improving local picture.

“Both initial and continued unemployment claims are down from the previous month,” Vicksburg WIN Job Center branch manager Terry Hodges said. “Year to date, we have placed 64 people into subsidized employment with the Mississippi STEPS program. These two factors could have impacted the unemployment rate for Vicksburg.”

Statewide figures reflected gains in the construction and leisure/hospitality categories, according to MDES.

Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment in April, at 6.9 percent, down from 7.2 percent in March. Noxubee County posted the highest, at 20.4 percent. Unemployment rates in Sharkey, Issaquena and Claiborne counties were reported lower for the month by more than a point each, at 12.2 percent, 12.8 percent and 15.8 percent, respectively.