Unemployment Rate Drops In 89 Tennessee Counties

Image Credit: Jeremy Kunz / CC

The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –

Tennessee saw the unemployment rate drop in 89 of the state’s 95 counties despite seeing a statewide unemployment rate increase to 3.5% from 3.3% in November.

Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% from 3.9%, putting Tennessee closer to the national average.

The lowest unemployment rates in the state now belong to Moore (2.4%), Williamson (2.6%), Sevier (2.6%), Rutherford (2.7%) and Sumner (2.7%) counties.

The highest rates in the state belong to Perry (5.3%), Lauderdale (5.2%), Bledsoe (5.0%), Meigs (4.8%), Clay (4.7%), McNairy (4.7%) and Pickett (4.7%) counties.

Overall, there were 92 counties in Tennessee with rates below 5.0%.

County unemployment rates are not adjusted seasonal while the statewide rate is adjusted for seasonal events such as school breaks and weather.

About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.