In addition to having one of Mississippi’s highest unemployment rates, Washington County continues to trail both the state and national averages in workforce participation.
Workforce Participation Rate Comparison
Workforce participation represents the share of adults who are working or actively looking for work. Here’s how Washington County compares to its five surrounding counties, as well as state and national averages:
| County/Area |
Workforce Participation Rate (2025) |
| Bolivar |
68.0% |
| Washington |
57.2% |
| Mississippi |
55.8% |
| Issaquena |
18.6% |
| United States |
62.3% |
| Sunflower |
N/A |
| Humphreys |
N/A |
| Sharkey |
N/A |
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Bolivar County leads the Delta region with the highest participation rate at 68%, significantly above both state and national levels.
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Washington County stands at 57.2%, trailing the national rate by about five points, though slightly above the state average.
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Issaquena County reports a starkly low workforce participation rate at just 18.6%, suggesting significant barriers to employment.
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Mississippi statewide records 55.8%, the lowest of any U.S. state.
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The national average for workforce participation is 62.3% as of June 2025.
Local and Regional Rankings
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Bolivar County holds the highest workforce participation among neighboring counties and all compared categories.
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Washington County ranks second among listed counties, slightly above the state average but well below the U.S. as a whole.
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Mississippi's overall labor force participation is among the lowest in the nation.
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Issaquena County sits near the bottom not only in the region but statewide.
Due to lack of current data, rates for Sunflower, Humphreys, and Sharkey counties are not available for 2025.
Context and Implications
Although Washington County exceeds the state average for workforce participation, its rate remains notably below both Bolivar County and the U.S. average, mirroring ongoing regional challenges.
This report compiled with Perplexity AI.
