Unemployment rates dropped in every Tennessee county in February, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The department made the announcement in a press release Thursday.
Out of Tennessee’s 95 counties, 91 recorded a rate of less than 5% for February, while four counties had unemployment higher than 5%, but less than 10% during the month, according to the department.
Unemployment went down in each of Tennessee's 95 counties in February. 91 out of 95 counties now have unemployment rates below 5%.
DETAILS AND ANALYSIS HERE: https://t.co/IWYm6lvvJ2 pic.twitter.com/0bsRtgE0vI— TN Dept of Labor & Workforce (@Jobs4_TN) March 31, 2022
The counties with the lowest unemployment rates in February were Moore County (1.8%), Williamson County (2.0%), Chester County (2.4%), Wilson County (2.4%), Cannon County (2.5%), Cheatham County (2.5%), Knox County (2.5%), Robertson County (2.5%), Sumner County (2.6%), and Rutherford County (2.6%).
The counties with the highest unemployment rates in February were Cocke County (6.3%), Lake County (5.8%), Perry County (5.7%), Shelby County (5.1%), Clay County (4.9%), Bledsoe County (4.6%), Lauderdale County (4.6%), Hardeman County (4.6%), Haywood County (4.6%), and Decatur County (4.5%).
When calculating county unemployment rates, seasonal impacts are not factored into the rates, while the statewide unemployment data is adjusted for those occurrences, the department notes.
The state of Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.4%, a 0.1 of a percentage point drop from January’s rate of 3.5%, according to TDLWD. The United States unemployment rate also dropped slightly in February. The nationwide seasonally adjusted rate inched down by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.8%.
Newest data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the United States economy added 431,000 jobs in March and the country’s unemployment rate declined slightly to 3.6%. Every demographic group tracked by the bureau, broken down by race or ethnicity and gender, saw its unemployment rate hold steady or fall in March, according to CNBC.
March unemployment data for the state is expected to be available on April 14th, the department noted.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
If the state unemployment rate is so low, why are there “help wanted” signs everywhere I look. Could it be because thousands have dropped out of the work force including many who have just dropped out and live on welfare and “free” stuff? Anyone else notice all of the expensive vehicles lined up to get “free” food at the food pantries?