County leads in job growth

The Marshall County Housing Study group has assembled an economic data report presented recently to the Marshall County Board of Supervisors.

Gary Anderson prepared and presented the report to the board and at other community meetings where citizens could learn more about the economic outlook in the county.

Particulars in the report include the following:

• The Mississippi Department of Employment Security issued a 2018 Jobs report that showed Marshall County tops the state in job growth with a 7.7 percent increase in employment. Only nine counties achieved job growth at or above 2 percent, Anderson said. The next closest county to Marshall showed a 6.5 percent rate of growth in employment.

• As of June 30, there are 1,600 new jobs that have been announced and will be filled by the end of the year, Anderson said. The 2019 job growth rate will exceed the 2018 increase in employment in Marshall County.

• There are 3 million square feet of industrial building space under construction in Marshall County and construction of another 1.5 million square feet will begin soon.

• The pay for most of the new jobs in Marshall County ranges from $15-$20 an hour for entry level positions. These industrial sector jobs pay rates exceed those in the leading industrial sector in other counties in the state.

• The 2010 Census report had the poverty rate in Marshall County at 24.2 percent. Estimates in 2018 show the poverty rate declined to 17.8 percent.

“The new job growth with increased salaries will further decrease the poverty rate,” Anderson said.

• Marshall County will soon open a new Workforce Development Center. It is only the second of its kind in Mississippi – the first being located near Tupelo in Belden.

Training will include GED preparation, basic skills training, manufacturing logistics, welding, robotics, automation, and computerized controls.

Once the center opens, it is expected to be fully occupied for the foreseeable future.

Northwest Mississippi Community College will partner with Marshall County to oversee the training at the facility. Offices for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security will also be located at the facility.

• Land is plentiful in the county and prime locations for companies to establish manufacturing and distribution facilities will be available for a long time. The growth in jobs is expected to continue and possibly increase for the next five to 10 years, Anderson said.