Image Credit: tn.gov
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Unemployment rates dropped in 92 of Tennessee’s 95 counties in December.
Overall, the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate sits at 3.5% while the national rate is at 3.7%.
That meant that Tennessee’s rate remained between 3.1% and 3.5% throughout 2023.
The lowest rates in the state belong to Moore (2.1%) and Williamson (2.3%) counties with Rutherford, Sevier and Sumner counties at 2.4% and Cheatham, Davidson, Robertson, Maury and Hickman counties at 2.5%.
The highest rate belongs to Bledsoe County (4.8%), with Lauderdale (4.7%), Hardeman (4.6%) and Meigs counties coming next. Pickett, Cumberland, Perry and Houston counties are at 4.2% while Clay and Unicoi are at 4.1%.
Overall, Tennessee has a labor force of nearly 3.4 million with nearly 3.3 million employed.
Shelby County has the largest labor force with nearly 433,000 workers while Davidson County has nearly 421,000.