From December 2024 to March 2025, Mississippi experienced a net loss of 3,693 private-sector jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The figures show that gross job losses from closing and contracting establishments totaled 57,475, while gross job gains from opening and expanding establishments amounted to 53,782 during the first quarter of 2025.
Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated, “The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment loss of 3,693 jobs in the private sector during the first quarter of 2025.” In comparison, the previous quarter saw net employment growth with gross job gains exceeding losses by 1,171.
Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics measure these changes by tracking increases and decreases in employment at private businesses from one quarter’s third month to the next. The BED data reflect both expansions and contractions at existing firms as well as openings and closings.
In Mississippi for this period, gross job losses represented 6.1 percent of private-sector employment—higher than the national rate of 5.4 percent. Contracting establishments accounted for most of these losses with a reduction of 49,547 jobs, an increase over the prior quarter. Jobs lost due to closures fell compared to earlier months.
Gross job gains made up 5.7 percent of private-sector employment in Mississippi; nationally this figure was slightly lower at 5.6 percent. Expanding establishments added fewer jobs than before—42,204 in total—while new openings contributed an increased number at 11,578.
Among industry sectors in Mississippi during this period, leisure and hospitality posted the largest net decrease with a loss of 2,468 jobs due to higher gross job losses relative to gains. Professional and business services also recorded a significant net loss with a reduction of 2,257 jobs. On the other hand, construction had the highest net gain among sectors with an increase of 1,804 jobs; education and health services followed with a gain of 1,085 jobs.
The BED data series provide information on job flows by industry subsector across all states as well as U.S. territories and include breakdowns by employer size class.
The next release covering second-quarter data is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
“The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records.”
Further details about definitions used in this report can be found through BLS resources or requested via phone or relay service.
