Business Blog

The good news: The number of people working in Mississippi increased in February. The bad news: The unemployment rate also increased. Confused? “Although it may seem strange that the number of jobs and the unemployment rate can both move upward, the fact is that those two figures are calculated using two separate surveys by the [...]

As he begins his second year in office, Gov. Phil Bryant will talk directly to lawmakers at the State Capitol and to the Mississippi people via broadcast in his annual State of the State address tomorrow evening. We’ve polled our readers and asked them which of four topics they most wanted to hear the governor [...]

The Governor’s Workforce Conference held earlier this month in Jackson offered plenty of success stories, particularly the recruitment of the new Toyota plant in Northeast Mississippi. However, there were also words of warning about the state meeting the needs of businesses with a competently trained workforce in the future. The state is already struggling to [...]

Every year, hunters flock to the Delta to take advantage of some of the best public hunting land in the state offered by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks’ wildlife management areas (WMAs) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This year, however, hunters are wondering if [...]

Having a jobs plan has gotten pretty trendy this election year. Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant reveals his 10-point plan at a Byram manufacturing plant after receiving gubernatorial endorsements from the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and other trade groups.

Businesses unaware of MDES’ E-Verify service The business community had serious concerns back in 2008 when the Mississippi Employment Protection Act was signed into law. The legislation requires companies to use the E-Verify system to screen employees to ensure they are legal. Noncompliance means stiff, potentially business-killing penalties. Now, the business community seems largely unaware [...]

Twin Creeks has openings; Stion on the way Mississippians interested in high-paying jobs at solar panel manufacturing plants need to visit Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia or Pearl River Community College in Hattiesburg. Higher-level solar jobs require a two-year degree in science or technology or a four-year degree in industrial or manufacturing engineering. Other [...]

By Wally Northway A decision recently rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court opens employers to liability for discriminatory employment practices in a theory that up until the ruling had gained little traction in the higher courts. Now, human resources managers need to be aware that the “cat’s paw” liability theory has been deemed constitutional and [...]

By Ted Carter Is that a light at the end of the economic tunnel we’re seeing? Could be, according to the triennial Mississippi Economic Council-Godwin Group Economic State of the State survey. The survey, performed on behalf of the State Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Economic Council, polled 300 voting age residents and 300 [...]