High unemployment rate this Labor Day holiday - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

High unemployment rate this Labor Day holiday

By  Julie Straw - bio | email | twitter

BRANDON, MS (WLBT) - It is a day for the working man to stop laboring and relax. A little R & R was the only thing on the agenda for families at Lakeshore Park in Brandon.

"We're going to do a little fishing, a little skiing, cooking on the grill," said Terry Hickson, of Florence.

That's what makes this holiday unique. The central labor union held the very first Labor Day in New York City in 1882 years. Four years later it was declared a federal holiday. Of course, not everyone gets a break from the daily grind.

"Basically I'm just going through all the parks, emptying the cans and picking up the little trash on the ground, the bigger stuff I can't because it's just me out here today," said Reservoir Maintenance Supervisor Quincy Rabon. He doesn't mind working the holiday and he is just happy to be working.

"A lot of people are out of work and I enjoy my job out here so I kind of have to please the people, keep the people going," said Rabon.

Mississippi's unemployment rate sits higher than the national average at nearly 11 percent.  For those in the Jackson area it is 8.6 percent.  Those statistics have some people counting their blessings this Labor Day.

"I've seen it happen to a lot of people at work. I'm very thankful to have a job and I'm thankful for my day off," said Katie Coursey.

"Everybody is just looking for a job and we're just blessed to have one," said Michael Coursey.

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