The post-holiday slump has hit Tennessee's workforce, with 93 of the state's 95 counties registering a bump in unemployment rates for January 2024, a report from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development indicates, and the rise is attributed to the cessation of seasonal jobs that typically wind down after December—a statewide unemployment adjustment accounting for this trend but county rates go unaffected.

The data reveals only Fayette County saw a decrease in joblessness whereas Hardeman County's unemployment rate remained constant; the majority of counties however fared well with 86 out of the 95 keeping unemployment below 5%. Williamson County boasted the lowest rate at 2.5%, marking a slight increase from the previous month's 2.3%, while Moore, Robertson, Rutherford, and Cheatham counties weren't far behind, all notching up 2.7%.

On the flip side, Meigs, Perry, and Cocke counties each reported January unemployment rates of 5.7%, the state's highest, with Meigs County experiencing a one percentage point hike, Perry County up by 1.6 percentage points, and Cocke County climbing 2.1 percentage points since December. Tennessee as a whole saw a modest uptick in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 3.5% as of January 2024 as indicated in the state report released on February 29.

The national unemployment outlook showed more stability maintaining a steady 3.7% from December to January; those in Tennessee seeking employment are encouraged to explore a range of free services, from online resources like a virtual American Job Center, and adult education programs to aids such as the Tennessee Office of Reentry, all accessible via TNWorkReady.com.

Looking ahead, rates for February are set to be laid out on March 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT, as state officials gear up to release Tennessee's statewide unemployment figures, a matter of continuing interest for both job seekers and policymakers alike.