HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The city’s expanding business landscape reflects broader economic progress shaping local employment trends. n nHattiesburg’s ongoing development has created a favorable environment for new enterprises like Vie Pilates Studio, which recently opened along Highway 98. n nLindsey Massey, the studio’s founder, expressed surprise at her entrepreneurial journey: “I never imagined starting a business, but felt compelled to pursue this opportunity.” n nAccording to Todd Jackson from the Area Development Partnership, approximately $400 million in active construction and completed projects demonstrate sustained investment. “While tracking exact business turnover remains challenging, job creation continues trending upward,” he noted. n nRegional workforce statistics show the metropolitan labor force comprising roughly 70,000 individuals, with employment numbers increasing by 0.5-1% annually. Current unemployment rates for surrounding counties stand at 3.7% in Forrest and 3.3% in Lamar – both below the national 4% average. n nJackson emphasized community collaboration as key to success: “Local leadership and business cooperation have positioned Hattiesburg as a dynamic urban center attracting nationwide attention.” n nEducational institutions contribute significantly to economic momentum, with seasonal student returns expected to further boost the labor pool. The development authority anticipates maintaining top national rankings for low unemployment, having previously achieved 1.7% in 2024. n nVie Pilates Studio exemplifies this trend through workforce development initiatives, currently training new instructors who will remain local employment contributors. n
— news from WDAM-TV
— News Original —
Economic growth helps keep Hattiesburg unemployment rate low
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The places you eat, shop and live are all a part of a bigger picture. n nAs the city of Hattiesburg continues to grow, so do its demands. n nOne of the city’s newest businesses is Vie Pilates Studio. n nA lot like a Pilates class, the city of Hattiesburg started small with its progress years ago. n n“They kind of understand and already have that foundation and know what they’re doing, and we can progress and build on that,“ said Lindsey Massey, owner and instructor at Vie Pilates studio. n nMassey’s new business is just one example of growth for Hattiesburg as businesses expand all the way down Highway 98. n n“Putting an exact number on the amount of businesses coming in and out of the area is always hard to do,” said Todd Jackson, the vice president of the Area Development Partnership. “What we do know is that we have over $400 million worth of projects either recently announced or under construction or recently opened, which is always amazing. So job growth in a positive direction, continued new investment that wasn’t in the community before.” n nThe ADP said the Hattiesburg labor force is made up of about 70,000 people in the metro area. n nThat number continues to grow, meaning the rate of unemployment continues to slow. n n“The local labor market has added about 400 jobs over the last year, which is in-between a half and one percent,” Jackson said. “Somewhere in that ballpark, but it’s going in a positive direction, and that’s what you always want to see.” n nVie opened up on Hwy 98 in November. n nAlthough the studio only has two teachers right now, they recently started teacher training. Most of the people in that class are expected to work right here in Hattiesburg. n n“If you’d asked me 10 years ago if I would ever have opened a business, I would have been like, ‘No, I would never do that,’” Massey said. “But I felt very called to do this, and I’m really passionate about it.” n nAccording to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, so far in 2025, Forrest County averages a 3.7% unemployment rate, and Lamar County is at 3.3%. n nBoth counties are below the national average of 4%, and only a portion of those figures reflect the city of Hattiesburg. n n“This metro area continually leads the state of Mississippi in job growth each year,” Jackson said. “At one point last year, the Hattiesburg metro area was ranked as number one in the nation, with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 1.7 percent.“ n nThe ADP said elected officials and a healthy business community are to thank for the consistently low unemployment rates, and a lot like Pilates, if you keep doing what works, the results will follow. n n“At the end of the day, this isn’t just a college town,” Jackson said. “This is a vibrant college city with a lot of great things going on, and thankfully, we’ve got everybody here in the community kind of moving in the same direction, working together to make good things happen.” n nThe ADP said the city is bracing for another workforce boost as many college students return to town looking for jobs. n nWant more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.