Local jobless rate drops to 6.8%

November 30, 2006

By BEN GARRETT
Independent Herald Editor

Scott County’s unemployment rate dropped four-tenths of a percentage point last month, according to figures released last week by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

The local jobless rate dropped from 7.2 percent to 6.8 percent during the September-to-October reporting period, figures show. That rate is based on a local labor force of 8,150 workers, with 7,590 being employed in October and 560 being without work.

Scott was among 41 counties across the state that saw decreased unemployment rates in October. Rates increased in 38 counties and remained the same in 16 counties.

In counties surrounding Scott, three posted decreased unemployment rates, while two saw increased rates in October.

The biggest change was in Morgan County, where the unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a point to 5.4 percent. Fentress County’s rate decreased from 7.0 percent to 6.8 percent. Campbell County also posted a slight decrease, down from 5.1 percent to 5.0 percent. Anderson County’s unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percent to 4.0 percent, as did Pickett County’s, to 6.8 percent.

Statewide, the county with the lowest unemployment rate was Williamson County, at 2.6 percent, unchanged from September. Clay County posted the state’s highest jobless rate at 8.3 percent, up from 8.0 percent in September.
In major metropolitan counties, Knox County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.1 percent, unchanged from September. Davidson County’s rate was also unchanged, at 3.7 percent. Hamilton County’s rate dropped from 3.9 percent to 3.7 percent, while Shelby County posted a jobless rate of 4.9 percent, down from 5.1 percent in September.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate statewide was 4.5 percent, down from the September rate of 4.6 percent. Nationwide, the rate was 4.4 percent, down from 4.6 percent in September.

“Tennessee’s unemployment rate has improved considerably from where we were a year ago,” Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley said. “The rate has decreased 1.1 percentage points from October 2005. This continues to show the strong, steady growth we’ve been seeing all year.”

The September-to-October business survey shows employment increases in trade, transportation and utilities employment, up 6,600 jobs. Employment in administrative support and waste services also increased by 5,200 and local government educational services employment increased by 4,400 jobs. Seasonal month-to-month employment decreases took place in leisure/hospitality, with 5,600 jobs lost. Manufacturing lost 4,900 jobs and construction decreased by 2,600 jobs.

From October 2005 to October 2006, trade/transportation/utilities jobs increased by 10,000. Jobs in leisure and hospitality rose by 8,700 and educational and health services jobs increased by 7,400. Employment decreased in manufacturing by 8,200, food and beverage stores by 1,500 and administrative/support/waste services jobs by 1,200.

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