‘No-hire, no-fire’ flat labor market continues. Is a Jackson casino possible?: Mississippi Marketplace

Mississippi’s unemployment rate dropped only slightly in September, from 3.4% to 3.3%, the lowest since July 2024 when it was 3.1.%.

The unemployment rate has decreased slightly over the last several months after remaining around 3.8% for almost a year. 

September 2026 unemployment numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the number of jobs in Mississippi held relatively steady, dropping by about 700 jobs compared to August, mirroring the national “no-hire, no-fire” environment.

“We’ve got a steady labor market, not a whole of jobs being added but not seeing declines in employment, either,” said Corey Miller, Mississippi’s chief economist. 

Unemployment claims have declined over the past year, but so has the number of people in the labor force, leading to a lower labor-force participation rate, following national trends.

Mississippi has one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the country. In September, the rate was 54.3%, down from 55.8% a year earlier. The national rate was 61.8% in September.

UMMC building new cancer center

The University of Mississippi Medical Center has broken ground on a new cancer center in Jackson. UMMC, the state’s only academic medical center, said the building is critical to its goal of achieving National Cancer Institute designation and improving patient outcomes. The building is expected to cost $250 million with funds coming from the state, federal government and private donors.

The center could bring more jobs to the area and generate additional economic benefits for the region. UMMC estimates that once it opens, an NCI designated center would generate over $200 million a year in economic benefit.

UMMC has sought the NCI designation for over a decade. Dr. Alan Jones, the medical center’s associate vice chancellor for health affairs said achieving the designation will take more time.

UMMC will need to hire more faculty, perform community outreach and expand its research capabilities. Researchers receive federal grants, but the grants do not cover all the costs associated with running a large, complex research organization.

Is a Jackson casino possible?

Investors want to build a casino along the Pearl River in Jackson and asked the City Council to sell them city-owned land. Rep. Chris Bell, a Democrat from Jackson, said the project would bring in much needed tax dollars for the city. For the project to happen, it would need approval from the Legislature, which Bell has attempted and failed to secure multiple times.

Tax revenue from Mississippi’s gross casino earnings has been flat over the last few years according to numbers from the Department of Revenue. The growth of online gambling and prediction markets, although mobile sports betting outside casinos remains illegal in Mississippi, is an increasing worry for the casino industry. 

Other news

• Barge Forest Products is investing $8.3 million to expand its sawmill operations in Macon.
• Jackson-area business leaders discussed the impact of data centers on Mississippi communities as the centers face increasing pushback from residents and lawmakers. 
• Mississippi, the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states filed a lawsuit against Dollar General claiming the company has persistently overcharged customers. In 2023, Mississippi had the highest number of Dollar General stores per capita.
• Ingalls Shipbuilding received a $99-million contract for testing and upgrades on a Navy destroyer. 
• Fairbanks Morse Defense will double its capacity in Pascagoula. The $60-million expansion includes $27 million from the U.S. navy.