September Unemployment Rates Decrease in Every Tennessee County

NASHVILLE (October 22) — The unemployment rates in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties decreased in September, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The report indicates the national unemployment rate decreased from 8.4 percent in August to 7.9 percent in September, which represents a decline of 0.5 percent. During the same rating period, Tennessee’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 percent to 6.3 percent, a reduction of 2.3 percent.

Weakley County’s unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for the month of September was 1.9 percent lower than it was in September, when unemployment registered 6.4 percent. It was 3.4 percent lower than the national rate of 7.9 percent, and 1.78 percent less than the state average of 6.3 percent. Out of a total countywide labor force of 15,527 workers, 14,823 Weakley Countians were employed and 704 were unemployed.

Carroll County’s jobless rate was 5.2 percent for September, which represents a reduction of 2.3 percent from the previous month’s rate of 7.5 percent. It was 2.7 percent lower than the national rate and 1.1 percent less than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 11,973 workers, 11,349 were employed and 624 were unemployed.

Henry County recorded a jobless rate of 5.1 percent for September, which is 2.1 percent less than August’s rate of 7.2 percent. It was 2.8 percent lower than the national rate and 1.2 percent less than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 13,920 workers, 13,205 were employed and 715 were unemployed.

Gibson County registered 5.5 percent unemployment for the month of September, which is 2 percent less than the previous month. Gibson County’s jobless rate was 2.4 percent lower than the national rate, and 0.8 percent less than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 21,914 workers, 20,707 were employed and 1,207 were unemployed.

At 5.3 percent, Obion County’s jobless rate for September decreased by 2 percent from July’s rate of 7.3 percent. Unemployment in Obion County was 2.6 percent less than the national average, and 1 percent below the state rate. Out of a total countywide labor force of 12,481 workers, 11,817 were employed and 664 were unemployed.

The Northwest Tennessee Economic and Community Development Region, which includes the counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley, registered an average unemployment rate of 5.3 percent for the month of September, which represents a decline of 2.1 percent below July’s rate of 7.4 percent. The region has a combined labor force of 107,717. Of this number, 101,994 were employed and 5,723 remained unemployed.

Twenty-seven counties recorded unemployment rates below 5 percent, while 68 counties have a rate of 5 percent or higher. There were no counties with an unemployment rate higher than 10 percent in September.

Once again, Moore County has the state’s lowest unemployment rate. Its September figure of 3.2 percent is 1.9 percentage points lower than the previous month’s rate.

Shelby County continues to have Tennessee’s highest unemployment. While its September rate is 9.9 percent, the new figure represents a drop of 3.7 percent from where it was in September.

Statewide, unemployment dropped to its lowest level in September since hitting an all-time high in April during the peak of COVID-19 business closures. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the month is 6.3 percent, a decrease of 2.3 percentage points from the revised September rate of 8.6 percent.

Unemployment also decreased nationally in September. The seasonally-adjusted rate for the United States is 7.9 percent, down 0.5 of a percentage point from September’s revised rate of 8.4 percent. Tennessee’s unemployment rate is now 1.6 percentage points lower than the national rate.

Businesses across Tennessee are ready to help the state’s economy rebound by re-employing out of work individuals. Jobs4TN.gov, Tennessee’s workforce development website, currently has 219,000 open positions for all job-skill levels.

Jobs4TN.gov also offers online assistance with writing a resume that will catch the attention of employers, advice on how to engage and impress during job interviews and details about potential job training opportunities.

There are more than 80 American Job Centers across Tennessee that are open for business and offering job seekers one-on-one personalized assistance. Career specialists are ready to work with individuals to devise a re-employment plan that will help them rejoin the state’s workforce. Locally, an American Job Center office is housed in the Weakley County Courthouse, at 116 W. Main St., in Dresden. Call 731-364-0100 to schedule an appointment.

All assistance is free to anyone who needs help finding a new job or career path.