Joblessness in Warren County remained level in October, following the statewide trend.

Local unemployment was 9.9 percent for the month, the same as an adjusted figure for September, according to figures released Wednesday by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The local labor force grew by 60 people last month, to 22,700 from 22,640, while the number of unemployed stayed the same, at 2,250. Local unemployment had been in double digits from November 2009 through July.

Unemployment statewide was 9.7 percent, the same as September and equal to the rate when adjusted for seasonal factors in the work force. The number of unemployed increased 1,200 over the month, while the employed total increased 6,000 from the month before, the agency said. Nationally, unemployment stood at 9 percent, down slightly from a revised 9.2 percent in July. The seasonally adjusted national rate is 9.6 percent.

Statewide figures reflected gains in the government, trade, transportation and utilities, and educational and health services categories, according to MDES.

Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment in October, at 6.3 percent, up from 6.2 percent in September. Noxubee County posted the highest, at 19.2 percent, down from 20.1 percent a month ago.

Among area counties, Claiborne County’s unemployment rate held at 14.5 percent for the month, while Issaquena’s dropped to 8.2 percent in October, from 9.1 percent a month ago, and Sharkey’s slid to 10.7 percent from 11.1 percent a month ago.