Job hunters in Tennessee have reason to welcome the latest employment figures, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). In a pleasant turn for these parts, unemployment rates have decreased in select counties. Specifically, 23 out of the state's 95 counties experienced a dip in unemployment rates when set against the previous month's figures.
While rates in 39 counties remained static, and increased in 33, it's worth noting that nearly every county managed to keep unemployment figures below the 5% mark. Only five counties grappled with numbers reaching but not surpassing the 10% ceiling, the highest at 5.9%. It's a mixed bag of news with some areas witnessing upward ticks, but the overarching trend is positive. Moore County boasts the title of lowest unemployment rate in December at 2.5%, edging down just slightly from November.
Not far behind, Williamson County held steady with an unemployment rate of 2.6%, consistent with the previous month. Sevier County, however, saw a small increase of one-tenth of a percentage point, bringing its December rate to 2.7%. On the higher end, Unicoi County's rate capped the chart at 5.9%, unchanged from November, while Bledsoe, McNairy, Houston, and Lake counties reported rates of 5.2%.
On a broader scale, the TDLWD previously reported that Tennessee enjoyed a seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.6% in December. This figure, though a slight increase over the month prior, still comfortably sits beneath the national rate of 4.1%. In an exceptional showing, the state celebrated historic lows in 2024, with all-time lows of 3% recorded in May, June, and July. County rates, unlike the statewide data, are not seasonally adjusted, meaning they do not reflect periodic changes in employment due to factors like weather and school holidays.
