Unemployment dropped in more than one-third of Tennessee’s 95 counties in November, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Rates decreased in 38 counties, remained the same in 24 counties, and unemployment increased in 33 counties during the month, according to a TDLWD press release.
The new data shows there are 91 counties across Tennessee with rates less than 5 percent and only four counties with rates greater than 5 percent.
“It’s very encouraging to have so many counties with unemployment rates below 5 percent during November,” the press release quoted TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord as saying.
“As we moved closer to the busy holiday season, more Tennesseans were taking home paychecks, which is the ultimate goal.”
Williamson County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent. That figure is down 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to October.
Davidson County has the second-lowest unemployment rate for the month. Its current statistic of 2.3 percent mirrors the rate from the previous month.
Cheatham and Rutherford counties both have a rate of 2.4 percent. For Cheatham County, that represents an increase of 0.1 of a percentage point. Rutherford County’s rate did not change between October and November.
Clay County experienced an increase in unemployment, giving the county the state’s highest unemployment rate. Its rate jumped from 5.2 percent in October to 5.9 percent in November.
Hancock, Hardeman, and Bledsoe counties follow Clay County with rates of 5 percent. Hancock County’s rate dropped one-half of a percentage point, Hardeman County is down 0.1 of a percentage point, and Bledsoe County is up by 0.3 of a percentage point.
Statewide, seasonally adjusted unemployment was down 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to October, setting the November 2019 rate at 3.3 percent.
The United States’ unemployment rate for November is 3.5 percent, 0.1 of a percentage point lower than it was in October.
The November 2019 unemployment data for each of Tennessee’s counties can be found by following this link.
Tennesseans searching for employment can access the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov, where they will find a wide range of helpful information and services.
The state of Tennessee will release the statewide unemployment rate for December 2019 Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. Central Time.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
