Latest census report indicates Mississippi’s population was undercounted in 2020

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – We’ve a follow-up tonight to a narrative we first reported final spring.

On the time, the census reported Mississippi misplaced inhabitants within the final ten years. New information contains some extra optimistic information.

It’s been simply greater than a yr for the reason that headlines and our first story that fewer folks had been calling Mississippi dwelling.

“The drop amounted to 0.2%…about 6,000 folks. Mississippi Financial Council President/CEO Scott Waller believes COVID impacted the depend.”

“I believe it’s protected to say that we actually are at a comparatively flat development fee,” mentioned Waller in 2021.

The newest report from the Census Bureau reveals it was an undercount in six states, most of these within the South. Mississippi is estimated to have been uncounted by 4.11 p.c. In different phrases, the state gained inhabitants within the final ten years to the tune of greater than 100,000 folks.

“What’s good about that is it reveals us that, yeah, we actually did develop slightly bit,” mentioned Waller Friday. “Nevertheless it additionally provides us the momentum and potential to actually capitalize on how can we develop extra sooner or later.”

Waller stresses the significance of that if you take a look at our surrounding states. Many confirmed important development, some within the double-digit percentages, even earlier than the undercount. He believes it’s a possibility to be proactive shifting ahead.

“So, we’re speaking about what can we do to create the varieties of jobs to create the alternatives and to point out different companies which can be positioned exterior of the state trying to come, what we are able to do for them, and I believe that’s the place so many issues are in movement,” added Waller.

The instructor pay elevate signed into legislation this yr is without doubt one of the steps in the suitable path at recruiting and retaining expertise.

“We’ve heard from educators throughout Mississippi that the instructor pay elevate will hold lots of our educators within the state,” mentioned Erica Jones, Mississippi Affiliation of Educators President. “Up to now, we’ve misplaced educators to Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, and plenty of of our different surrounding states. And we all know that is going to be not solely good for our public faculties right here within the state, however for the economic system as properly.”

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