Mississippi’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.8% through May, matching the national trend, according to state data. Nonfarm payroll employment reached 1,195,400, a 10-year high, though the figure was largely unchanged from a year earlier and from April.
Governor Tate Reeves praised the employment figures, stating, “Our state continues to rack up win after win because our economic development strategy is working. Mississippi has more jobs than ever before, and companies are investing billions of dollars in our state.”
In legal developments, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked a court to allow her to support xAI in a lawsuit filed by the NAACP. The NAACP contends that xAI’s mobile gas turbines in Southaven require an air permit under the federal Clean Air Act, and has requested a halt to their operation until permitted.
The Department of Justice filed a brief supporting xAI, citing national security concerns related to the company’s artificial intelligence model, Grok, which has been used in military operations including in Iran. Fitch argued that permits were unnecessary, citing the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and warned that halting the turbines could threaten economic benefits, jobs, and investment in the state.
Other economic news includes an $8.89 million expansion by electronics manufacturer Keytronics in Corinth, creating 376 jobs. Canadian plastics producer Gould Industries announced a $14 million investment to establish its first U.S. site in Summit, expected to generate 65 jobs.
Additionally, Area Development magazine awarded Mississippi a Golden Shovel Award for its growth in warehousing, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure, reflecting increased competitiveness in logistics industries.
In energy news, a report commissioned by Louisiana’s Public Service Commission found that Entergy Louisiana’s plans to purchase a new power plant are driven mainly by demand from Meta’s data center, with costs estimated at about $8 a month for ratepayers. Entergy stated that Meta is covering some costs and that the project will reduce expenses in the long run. Mississippi Today’s environmental reporter, Alex Rozier, examined the implications of Entergy and Amazon’s deals in the state, while Columbia University researchers cited infrastructure and policy issues as factors behind rising electricity prices nationwide.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
