Despite Reduction Scott Jobless Rate Remain State’s Highest

Nashville, TN (2011-04-21) Although the jobless rate in Scott County dropped for the second month in a row, the local unemployment rate remained the highest in the State in March. Scott County has held the dubious distinction for the last thirteen months. The local rate is 5.5 percent higher than the next highest rate in the State.

According to the latest statistics from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the unemployment rate for Scott County in March was 21.9 percent, a decrease of 0.7 percent over the month. Of the county’s labor force of 8,350, 1,820 were jobless last month, meaning 6,520 were employed in March. A year ago, the jobless rate in Scott County was 19.5 percent.

In neighboring counties, the jobless rate likewise dropped. Pickett County, which has the second highest unemployment rate in the State, experienced the greatest decrease over the month, a decline of 1.7 percent. Pickett County’s March unemployment rate was 16.4 percent, down from 18.1 percent in February. Campbell and Fentress counties, like Scott, experienced a 0.7 percentage point decrease in unemployment last month, reporting a March rate of 12.5 and 11.9 percent respectively. Anderson County’s jobless rate improved by 0.6 percentage point in March, dropping to 8.6 percent. Morgan County experienced a 0.5 percentage point decline in joblessness in March, down to 10.3 percent.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.1 percent, down from the February rate of 6.6 percent. Marshall County had the third highest rate in the State, reporting a March rate of 15.0 percent. Lauderdale County and Cocke County rounded out the top five, reporting March rates of 14.9 and 14.4 percent respectively. Counties in the top ten were: Benton, Hancock, and Haywood counties, each reporting a March jobless rate of 14.1 percent; Lewis County at 13.9 percent; and Henderson County at 13.8 percent.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.0 percent, down from 7.6 percent in February. Hamilton County was 8.1 percent, down from 8.7 percent the previous month. Davidson County was 8.4 percent, down from 8.7 percent in February, and Shelby County was 10.1 percent, down from 10.4 percent in February.