Local Jobless Rate Edges Up In June

Nashville, TN (2011-07-29) The local jobless rate edged up slightly in June, climbing to nearly 21 percent. Scott County is the only county in the state with an unemployment rate greater than 20 percent.

In June, the unemployment rate in Scott County rose slightly, up two tenths of a percentage point over the month to 20.9 percent. Over the period, the estimated labor force grew by 100 people, while the number of unemployed workers rose by 30, effectively implying 70 more people found jobs. Of the county’s labor force of 8,520, 6,740 were employed. Jobless workers rose to 1,780 in June, up from 1,750 in May. Originally, the county unemployment rate for May was 20.8 percent, but was seasonally adjusted down to 20.7 percent. The June rate slightly offset the May reduction of 1.3 percent. A year ago, the county jobless rate was 18.4 percent. Scott County is the only county in Tennessee with an unemployment rate higher than 20 percent.

Of contiguous counties, Scott County experienced the smallest increase in joblessness over the month. Morgan County saw the greatest percentage increase in unemployment, a 1.5 percent jump to 11.8 percent. Pickett County followed with a 1.1 increase over the month, recording a June jobless rate of 15.1 percent. Fentress County followed with a June jobless rate of 11.8 percent, an increase of 0.9 percentage point. The jobless rate in Campbell County climbed to 12.7 percent, an increase of 0.6 percentage point. Anderson County experienced an increase of 0.7 percentage point in June, climbing from 8.7 percent in May to 9.4 percent.

Across the state, the rate increased in 91 counties and decreased in only four: DeKalb, Hawkins, Moore and Smith Counties.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.8 percent, up from the May rate of 6.1 percent, followed by Williamson County at 7.2 percent, up from 6.6 percent. Lauderdale County at 15.7 percent, up from 14.9 percent in May, had the second highest behind Scott. At 15.6 percent, Haywood County recorded the third highest. Marshall County and Perry County, both at 15.2 percent, rounded out the top five. Those counties in the top ten were: Pickett County (15.1%), Hancock County (14.9%), Dyer County (14.5%), Henderson County (14.2%) and Lawrence County (14.2%).

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.0 percent, up from 7.4 percent in May. Hamilton County was 9.2 percent, up from 8.2 percent the previous month. Davidson County was 9.1 percent, up from 8.5 percent in May, and Shelby County was 11.1 percent, up from the May unemployment rate of 10.0 percent.