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While up some 1.3 points, the rate is only .8 of a point higher than what was posted in October 2004.
Florine Miller, director of Clarksdale's WIN Job Center, said the increase was almost entirely because of seasonal factors.
"We have been quite busy with unemployment claims for seasonal farm workers," she said. "But, we should begin to see a decline in November because of seasonal factors as well."
The number of employed Mississippians rose by 4,000 while the number of unemployed Mississippians fell to 127,500, down by 2,500 from September.
The nation's unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.6 percent was down two tenths of a point from September's 4.8 percent.
The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.0 percent for October was .1 of a point lower than September's 5.1 percent.
Total non-farm employment grew by 9,800 despite losses reported in several major industry sectors.
Fifty-three counties reported unemployment rates equal to or less than Mississippi's 9.6 percentage rate.
DeSoto County once again led the way with the lowest rate of 4.6 percent, followed by Rankin County at 4.8 percent.
Twenty-two counties posted double-digit unemployment rates for October with Hancock and Harrison County reporting the highest rates of 24.3 percent and 24.0 percent respectively.
The surrounding counties of Tunica, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Sunflower and Bolivar all posted increases for October.
Both Quitman and Tallahatchie Counties posted increases, but are down considerably from 2004's rates.
Quitman climbed 7.2 percent to 7.8 percent in October, down from 8.9 percent in 2004.
Tallahatchie climbed from 6.7 percent in September to 7.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent last year.
Tunica County, however, posted a increase of three points from 2004 with October's rate of 10.7 percent.
Miller said Tunica's rate may be due to a large number of evacuees settling in the area.
"If they listed addresses in Tunica County and filed claims, the number would have gone that high," she said.
Officials from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security suggest unemployment rates will remain high.
"Recovery from the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina will be a slow process," said Wayne Gasson, chief of market labor information. "Unemployment levels are expected to be high well into the next calendar year."
