Only one Tennessee county had an unemployment rate above 5% during the month of April, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Perry County was the only county with a rate above 5%, coming in at 5.1%. Although coming in with the highest rate for April, Perry County was down 0.1 of a percentage point from its March rate of 5.2%Â
Unemployment rates decreased in 12 Tennessee counties in April, according to a press release by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Sixty counties did experience slight increases in their rates for the month, while jobless numbers remained unchanged in 23 counties.
Cocke County had the second-highest rate in April at 4.8% but its rate dropped by 0.3 of a percentage point when compared to the previous month.
The counties following Perry and Cocke with the highest rates for April include Bledsoe (4.7%), Shelby (4.7%), Lake (4.6%), Lauderdale (4.4%), Clay (4.2%), Grundy (4.2%), Hardeman (4.2%), and Haywood (4.2%).
Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2%, which is 0.1 of a percentage point higher than the county’s March rate of 1.9%. Moore County had the next lowest rate in April at 2.1%, up 0.2 of a percentage point from the previous month’s number.
The counties following Williamson and Moore with the lowest rates for April include Wilson (2.3%), Chester (2.4%), Sumner (2.4%), Cheatham (2.5%), Rutherford (2.5%), Knox (2.5%), Robertson (2.5%), and Hickman (2.5%).
The Tennessee Star previously reported unemployment across the entire state remained at a historic low in April. The record-low rate of 3.2%, set in March, held steady into April. The number of Tennesseans in the workforce also hit new highs in April. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted civilian workforce grew to 3,388,426 from March’s total of 3,370,646. The number of Tennesseans employed came in at 3,278,825, compared to 3,261,628 for the previous month.
Tennessee’s record-low unemployment continues. The all-time low rate of 3.2%, set in March, held steady into April. You can find an analysis of the unemployment rate and additional workforce data here: https://t.co/zSXzApSuKI pic.twitter.com/Yk02tj6pzT
— TN Dept of Labor & Workforce (@Jobs4_TN) May 19, 2022
Unemployment across the nation also remained unchanged in April at 3.6 percent, according to most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Perry County’ had zero industry
Just wondering what the REAL unemployment number is when those who have just dropped out are included. I see all kinds of help wanted signs and places that have cut hours and/or services because they cannot get enough help. I really doubt if there are a significantly more total jobs than before the “pandemic” so why are the number job openings so much greater? It even sounds fishier when one considers the large number of people who have moved to Tennessee in the last two years. Maybe the funny numbers are a result of the new math that has been taught over the last many years.