New data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed unemployment rates increased slightly during May in each of the state’s 95 counties. Even with the minimal increases, 93 of Tennessee’s 95 counties maintained rates lower than 5% for the month.

Rutherford County sits at number 6 on the TOP 10 List of Counties with the lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee. Rutherford County's rate came in at 2.7%, tying with Sumner County, which was ranked at number 5, but also holding the same overall 2.7% unemployment score.

When looking at the individual cities in Rutherford County, Smyrna once again had the lowest unemployment rate in Rutherford County at 2.6%. Smyrna's rate for May was 0.3 points higher than the April 2022 rate of 2.3% and a full 1% lower than the May 2021 jobless rate at 3.6% last year. LaVergne had the second lowest rate at 2.7% - and that unemployment rate is 0.1% lower than the April 2022 rate of 2.6%. When going back to May of 2021, LaVergne had a jobless rate of 4.3%, which was 1.6% higher than the May 2022 rate of 2.7%. Murfreesboro's unemployment rate was 2.9%, which is 0.3 percentage points higher than the April unemployment rate of 2.6%. However, the May unemployment rate this year was 0.7 percentage points lower than the May 2021 rate of 3.6%.

In the number 1 position for having the lowest unemployment number in the Volunteer State is Williamson County at a low 2.3%. That figure is an increase of 0.3 points over April’s revised rate of 2%.

The city-by-city numbers for Williamson County shows that Franklin's unemployment number for May was the lowest at 2.2% - and that number is 0.3 points higher than the April unemployment figure of 1.9%. Brentwood had the second lowest rate at 2.4%, followed by Spring Hill, Tennessee at 2.7% - earning the third lowest unemployment figure in Williamson County.

Moore County had the second-lowest rate for May at 2.5%, followed by Wilson County at number 3 with a 2.6% rating, which tied with Cheatham County at number 4, also with 2.6%. Sumner County was ranked at number 5 on the list, tying with Rutherford County at number 6 - both holding a 2.7% jobless rate.
 
Highest Unemployment: Perry County’s rate came in at 5.5%, the highest in the state. That represented a 0.4 of a percentage point increase from April’s rate of 5.1%. Bledsoe County had the second-highest rate in May at 5.1%, also a 0.4 of a percentage point increase for the month.
 
The increase in county unemployment followed the slightest uptick in the statewide unemployment rate in May. Tennessee's jobless number inched up to 3.3% in May, just 0.1 of a percentage point higher than the state’s all-time low rate of 3.2%.
 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates county and statewide unemployment rates differently. It does not factor in seasonal impacts on data when determining county unemployment rates, while it does seasonally adjust the statewide unemployment number.

MORE UNEMPLOYMENT INFORMATION: Nationally, May’s unemployment rate mirrored April’s rate of 3.6%.
 
A complete analysis of the May 2022 county unemployment data for the state of Tennessee’s 95 counties is available here.
 
Job seekers can find all the resources and the services they need to start their search, all in one place. TNWorkReady.com is the site to find a new job, develop new skills, or find classes where adult learners can earn a high school equivalency diploma.
 
One-on-one help with a Career Specialist is also available at nearly 80 American Job Centers located in counties across Tennessee. Job seekers can find the closest job center to them here.

See more of the WGNS Radio Headline News Stories: 1.) UPDATE: One Arrested in Checkers' Drive-In Gunfire Incident  2.) Speed a possible factor in I-24 Accident on Tuesday 3.) Special 5K Run/Walk to Honor Riverdale Graduate Killed Earlier This Year 4.) Rutherford County Schools Aim to Hire New Teachers and YOU Can Become a Teacher and Earn Your Teaching License While Teaching

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