With the nation’s largest transformer plant, the largest shipbuilder and a major automotive factory near the state capital, Mississippi employment opportunities exist not only to its residents, but those who travel from nearby states, such as Alabama and Louisiana, to earn a fair living. Known as the hospitality state, it’s had its fair share of knocks due to the recession, but the state’s infrastructure remains strong to continue to attract major employers, with the coastal casinos being one of the most recent major efforts of the past two decades.
Mississippi unemployment
Mississippi unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) increased from October 2008 to October 2009 by 2.6% to a rate of 9.8%
[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Mississippi Employment Opportunities
Despite a major setback to Mississippi employment numbers along the gulf coast in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina’s devastating landfall, areas such as Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula have made incredible strides to rebuild the workforce – and with great success. Virtually all of the fifteen-plus casinos have rebuilt, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, although relying heavily on naval contracts to determine its workforce, has also regained its pre-Katrina employment numbers and the coast is once again a favorite host for many well-known musicians and performers. Jobs in the hospitality industry remain the most coveted of all Mississippi employment positions.
A bit further inland one will find Howard Industries, the nation’s largest transformer manufacturer. Its sister companies, such as Howard Computers, Howard Trucking and Howard Ballast offer Mississippi employment opportunities in areas such as public relations, manufacturing, trucking, computer components, sales and quality assurance. Headquartered in Laurel, Mississippi, employment opportunities exist in nearby cities where plants are located such as Sandersville, Ellisville and Jackson.
The Nissan plant, located in Canton, currently announced new Mississippi employment roles that will be filled for the retooling of its automobile plant for a 2010 launch of its first commercial vehicle, which also happens to be the first for the United States. This will indeed require the need for more employees, both factory and office personnel. Although current employment numbers vary for the plant in Mississippi, employment rosters hover near 25,000.
Yet another small cluster of riverbank casinos provide employment in the Philadelphia area. With two currently open for business and enriching Mississippi employment numbers, there are at least two more in the works with groundbreaking slated to begin in the near future. Philadelphia, near Meridian, remains proud of its casino’s contribution to Mississippi employment.
Throughout Mississippi, employment can be found with government municipalities, the many retail outlets, hotels, restaurants and the plentiful office and professional complexes. Because much of the state is considered rural, farming remains a possible profession for many; some are carrying on family businesses that are in their fourth and fifth generations. The casinos in the coastal cities of Biloxi and Gulfport, along with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding only one city east in Pascagoula (which also borders the Mississippi-Alabama state line), offer the highest concentration of Mississippi employment opportunities. The capital, Jackson, and its surrounding cities offer many positions as well. The Nissan plant in the northern half of the state is responsible for maintaining the higher Mississippi employment numbers for that region.
Mississippi Employment Resources
The state’s employment agency will likely be the first stop for many who are looking for Mississippi employment. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) can be found at www.mdes.ms.gov. It’s a federally funded state agency and has listings for both state and federal positions within Mississippi. Employment vacancies with other companies can be found here as well. Another informative stop on the web would be the state’s own website, found at www.mississippi.gov. Here one can find breaking news on employment opportunities, groundbreaking ceremonies for new businesses and a multitude of other helpful information – especially if it’s a new resident looking for resources. For those wishing to apply to Northrop Grumman in Pascagoula, the web address is www.ss.northropgrumman.com/company/ingalls.html and a great resource for those looking for positions in the casino industry, such as dealers, hostesses, valets or hotel clerks, try www.gulfcoastnews.com, www.biloximississippigulfresorts.com, www.sun-herald.com or www.biloxione.com. Each of these has countless Mississippi employment resources for the casino industry.
Finally, other Mississippi employment opportunities can be found at the following addresses: www.howard-ind.com for positions in any of the Howard Industries locations, the Clarion Ledger, the state’s largest newspaper has the latest positions for the Nissan plant posted at www.clarionledger.com/nissan , which is also a fine starting place for other jobs in the state capital.
For northern Mississippi, employment can be found at www.northmiss.craigslist.org, www.nmhs.net/employment, the site for the North Mississippi Medical Center, www.job-hunt.org/jobs/mississippi and for federal listings, see www.federaljobs.gov/mississippi.
Although Mississippi is best known for its sweltering heat, the fact is, it’s a beautiful state with many historical landmarks. Vicksburg, located near the Mississippi-Louisiana state line is chock full of history, with many Confederate War landmarks. Of course, the golden Gulf Coast offers far more than Mississippi employment; it offers miles of spectacular beaches, saltwater and fresh water fishing, golf and beautiful homes. Apartment complexes are plentiful for those wishing to rent and the real estate market is enjoying an upswing with the rebuilding efforts since Hurricane Katrina.
Mississippi Living Conditions
All through the state, one will find breathtaking antebellum homes, magnolia trees that seem to go for miles and truly, the most friendly people one can ever hope to meet. The schools offer educational opportunities for children, with Ocean Springs school district, located between Biloxi and Pascagoula, receiving national honors on an annual basis.
The delta is home to Belzoni, the catfish capital of the world and miles of white cotton that grows in the summer and fall months.
Mississippi Employment
Clearly, the state offers it all and once a newcomer sets up a house, each of the state’s residents work to ensure it feels like home in no time. Fantastic cooks stand at the ready in huge kitchens to welcome a new resident to the neighborhood with an elaborate homemade cake or a pan of fried chicken, kids still play until dark and the heat is nothing more than an opportunity to sip iced tea or lemonade on the grand front porches that still stand proud. Mississippi employment opportunities certainly exist, but Mississippians are the true draw for newcomers.
