RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Jobless data is in for the state of Tennessee. Rutherford County is ranked as having the 4th lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee at 3%. Tying with Rutherford County in the 5th, 6th and 7th positions are Sumner, Davidson and Moore Counties, respectively.
In city-by-city data for Rutherford County, Smyrna continues to maintain the lowest unemployment number for this past month, with a jobless rate of 2.9%. That number is unchanged when compared to May. The unemployment rate in Murfreesboro increased by 0.2% between May and June of this year. According to the Department of Labor, Murfreesboro's jobless figure now stands at 3.1%. In La Vergne, the unemployment rate went up by 0.2%, landing on 3.1% for June.
The seasonal impacts on employment, such as school breaks, continued to have an impact on Tennessee’s county unemployment numbers in June, according to newly released information from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The June 2023 data showed unemployment rates increased in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties during the month. Seventy-seven counties had an unemployment rate of less than 5% in June, while the remaining 18 counties had rates of 5% or greater but less than 10%.
At 2.8%, Williamson County reported the lowest unemployment rate in June. Its new statistic was 0.3 of a percentage point higher than the previous month’s rate. The rates for both Cheatham and Sevier counties were 2.9% for the month. The rates in both counties increased by 0.3 of a percentage point between May and June.
Bledsoe County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate for the month. At 6.5%, the county’s June rate jumped 1.2 percentage points when compared to its May rate. Scott and Van Buren counties shared the next highest rate of 5.9%. That represented a 0.6 of a percentage point increase for Scott County and an increase of 1.8 percentage points for Van Buren County.
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate matched the state’s all-time low statistic of 3.2%, which represented a 0.1 of a percentage point decrease from the previous month.
TDLWD has produced a report with a complete analysis of the county unemployment data and labor force data for areas across the state. That report is available here.
Employers across the state having a difficult time finding employees can learn how second chances work by viewing the Second Chances Work Employer Resource Guide. The Tennessee Office of Reentry can work with businesses to show them how hiring justice-involved individuals can benefit their workforce and their budget with tax incentives and job training funds.
