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Mississippi's Approach to Increasing Its Labor Force

Mississippi's Labor Force Participation Rate

Mississippi's labor force participation rate has been consistently below the national average. In January 2023, the state's labor force participation rate was 57.5%, compared to the national average of 62.3%. This means that a significant portion of Mississippi's working-age population is not participating in the labor force.

There are a number of factors that contribute to Mississippi's low labor force participation rate, including:

• A lack of access to affordable childcare
• A lack of transportation options
• A lack of job opportunities in some areas of the state

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann's Initiatives

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann has made increasing Mississippi's labor force participation rate a priority. In 2023, he created the Labor Force Participation Study Group to investigate the state's low labor force participation rate and make recommendations for how to improve it.

The study group's report, which was released in December 2023, found that there are a number of factors that contribute to Mississippi's low labor force participation rate. The report made a number of recommendations for how to improve the state's labor force participation rate, including:

• Increasing access to affordable childcare
• Improving transportation options
• Creating more job opportunities in some areas of the state

Lieutenant Governor Hosemann has also taken steps to implement some of the study group's recommendations. In 2023, he announced the creation of a new state agency, the Mississippi Workforce Development Agency, which will be responsible for coordinating workforce development efforts across the state.

The Future of Mississippi's Labor Force

Mississippi's labor force participation rate is a complex issue with no easy solutions. However, Lieutenant Governor Hosemann's initiatives are a step in the right direction. By addressing the factors that contribute to Mississippi's low labor force participation rate, the state can increase its workforce and improve its economy.