Unemployment rates declined in nearly half of Tennessee’s counties in August, according to the latest data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Of the state’s 95 counties, 47 experienced a drop in unemployment, while 28 saw increases, and 20 remained the same. Notably, all but three counties reported rates below 5%, signaling a strong job market across much of the state.
Sevier County, located in East Tennessee, recorded the lowest unemployment rate for the month at 2.5%, a slight increase from its July figure of 2.4%. Close behind, Moore County reported a 2.6% rate, down by three-tenths of a percentage point from July. Williamson County followed at 2.7%, with a marginal rise of one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month.
Rutherford, Sumner, and Davidson Counties all tied with an unemployment rate of 2.9% for August, landing them among the top 10 counties with the lowest jobless rates in Tennessee. Each county ranked in positions #7: Sumner Co., #8: Rutherford Co., #9: Davidson Co.
Within Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and LaVergne all reported a 3% unemployment rate for the month. While the rate remained steady for LaVergne, both Murfreesboro and Smyrna saw a slight increase from 2.9% in July.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Houston County recorded the highest unemployment rate at 5.7%, a slight increase from its July figure. McNairy County followed with a rate of 5.2%, unchanged from the previous month. Bledsoe County saw a notable improvement, with its unemployment rate dropping from 5.6% in July to 5% in August.
Statewide, Tennessee's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.1% for August, a small increase after three consecutive months of record lows. In comparison, the national unemployment rate was slightly higher at 4.2%.
It is important to note that county-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, which means they do not account for fluctuations related to seasonal factors, such as school breaks. The next release of statewide unemployment data is scheduled for Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT.
