Unemployment rates dropped in counties across Tennessee in February, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Each of the state’s 95 counties saw lower unemployment during the second month of 2022.
Rutherford County came in at number 10 on the Top Ten List of counties with the lowest unemployment rates in Tennessee, tying with Sumner County at number 9 on the list. Both Sumner and Rutherford Counties at numbers 9 and 10 on the list, recorded a February unemployment rate of 2.6%.
Moore County had Lowest Unemployment Rate
Moore County had Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in February. At 1.8%, its rate dropped 0.4 of a percentage point from the January rate of 2.2%. Williamson County had the state’s second-lowest rate for the month at 2%, down 0.2 of a percentage point.
Cocke County had the Highest Unemployment Rate
Cocke County had the highest jobless rate for the month at 6.3%. While the county’s rate was the highest, its February number dropped 0.8 of a percentage point from January’s rate of 7.1%. Lake County had the next highest rate at 5.8%, which was a 0.6 of a percentage point decrease from January’s rate of 6.4%.
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and a comparison of Jan. and Feb. for Rutherford County, Tennessee...
Tennessee Unemployment for February 2022 – Continued...
When calculating county unemployment rates, seasonal impacts are not factored into the rates, while the statewide unemployment data is adjusted for those occurrences.
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%. The new figure came in 1.6 percentage points lower than the 2021 rate of 5%.
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%. One year ago, the national jobless rate was 6.2%.
Rutherford County – from January 2022 to February 2022
JANUARY 2022: In January, Rutherford County's unemployment rate came in at 2.8%. That rating ranked Rutherford County at number 5 on the list of counties with the lowest unemployment rate In the Nashville - Murfreesboro - Metro Statistical Area. Cannon, Cheatham and Wilson Counties all had an unemployment rate of 2.6% while Williamson County had the lowest rate at 2.2% in January.
FEBRUARY 2022: Rutherford County came in at number 10 on the Top Ten List of counties with the lowest unemployment rates in Tennessee, tying with Sumner County at number 9 on the list. Both Sumner and Rutherford Counties at numbers 9 and 10 on the list, recorded a February unemployment rate of 2.6%.
Top Ten Lowest Unemployment Rates in TENNESSEE:
1. Moore County, TN at 1.8% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
2. Williamson County, TN at 2.0% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
3. Chester County, TN at 2.4% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
4. Wilson County, TN at 2.4% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
5. Cannon County, TN at 2.5% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
6. Cheatham County, TN at 2.5% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
7. Knox County, TN at 2.5% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
8. Robertson County, TN at 2.5% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
9. Sumner County, TN at 2.6% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
10. Rutherford County, TN at 2.6% Unemployment - FEB. 2022
Need More Analysis on the Tennessee Unemployment Rates?
Analysis of the February county unemployment numbers for each county, including labor force estimates for areas across the state, can be found here.
TDLWD has many resources available to help individuals navigate the thousands of open jobs in and around Tennessee, as well as locate opportunities to improve skill sets or learn new, in-demand skills. Job seekers can find those resources in-person at an American Job Center, or online at www.TNWorkReady.com.
