Unemployment rate jumps locally
Scott County’s unemployment rate increased for a second consecutive month in October, according to the State Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
The local jobless rate climbed six-tenths of a percentage point in the September-to-October reporting period, to 7.1%. That increase follows a similar increase from August-to-September that saw a climb from 5.8% to 6.5%.
Those percentages are based on a local workforce of 8,440, with 7,840 employed during the month and 600 without work.
Across the state, 41 counties posted decreased jobless rates in October, while 40 counties increased and 14 remained unchanged.
In counties surrounding Scott, Anderson County’s jobless rate increased from 3.9% to 4.1%, Campbell County’s rate increased from 4.9% to 5.0%, Fentress County’s rate decreased from 5.9% to 5.6%, Morgan County’s rate increased from 5.1% to 5.4%, and Pickett County’s rate increased from 7.1% to 7.5%.
Statewide, Knox County continued to post the lowest county unemployment rate, at 3.3%, while Maury County posted the highest unemployment rate at 8.7%.
Among major metropolitan areas, Knoxville registered the lowest jobless rate, at 3.5%, while Nashville-Murfreesboro’s jobless rate was reported at 3.7%. Chattanooga’s jobless rate was 4.0%, while Memphis reported a jobless rate of 4.9%.
The seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate was 4.6%, down slightly from the September rate of 4.7%. The national unemployment rate is 4.7%.
“We have seen Tennessee’s jobless rate decline over the past year from 5.1% in October 2006,” Labor & Workforce Commissioner James Neeley said. “It’s encouraging to see Tennessee’s construction sector, primarily non-residential, continuing to operate in positive numbers, increasing by 7,400 jobs from a year ago.”