Local Unemployment Rates Reflect Statewide Trend

NASHVILLE – Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties experienced decreased unemployment in November 2020, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Unemployment rates in 41 counties are now less than 5 percent. Fifty-four counties recorded rates of 5 percent or higher during the month.

The report indicates the national unemployment rate decreased from 6.9 percent in October to 6.7 percent in November, which represents a decline of 0.2 percent.

Statewide, Tennessee experienced significantly lower unemployment during the month. The preliminary, seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for November is 5.3 percent, a 0.2 percent drop from October’s revised rate of 7.3 percent. The new statistic is just 0.2 percent higher than the state’s unemployment rate one year ago in November.

Weakley County’s unemployment rate of 4.7 percent for the month of November was 1.8 percent lower than it was in October, when unemployment registered 6.5 percent. It was 2 percent lower than the national rate of 6.7 percent, and 0.6 percent less than the state average of 5.3 percent. Out of a total countywide labor force of 16,683 workers, 15,905 Weakley Countians were employed and 778 were unemployed.

Carroll County’s jobless rate was 5.6 percent for November, which represents a reduction of 2.1 percent from the previous month’s rate of 7.7 percent. It was 1.1 percent lower than the national rate and 0.3 percent higher than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 12,632 workers, 11,929 were employed and 703 were unemployed.

Gibson County registered 5.4 percent unemployment for the month of November, which is 2.1 percent less than the previous month. Gibson County’s jobless rate was 1.3 percent lower than the national rate, and 0.1 percent higher than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 23,022 workers, 21,782 were employed and 1,240 were unemployed.

Henry County recorded a jobless rate of 5.5 percent for November, which is 2 percent less than October’s rate of 7.5 percent. It was 1.2 percent lower than the national rate and 0.2 percent more than the state average. Out of a total countywide labor force of 14,589 workers, 13,792 were employed and 797 were unemployed.

At 5.9 percent, Obion County’s jobless rate for November decreased by 2 percent from October’s rate of 7.9 percent. Unemployment in Obion County was 0.8 percent less than the national average, and 0.6 percent above the state rate. Out of a total countywide labor force of 13,258 workers, 12,482 were employed and 776 were unemployed.

The Northwest Tennessee Economic and Community Development Region, which includes Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley counties, registered an average unemployment rate of 5.4 percent for the month of November, which represents a decline of 2.1 percent below October’s rate of 7.5 percent. At 4.7 percent, Weakley County had the second lowest jobless numbers in the region. The lowest was Crockett County, which registered an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. The Northwest Tennessee Economic and Community Development Region has a combined labor force of 113,703. Of this number, 107,531 were employed and 6,172 remained unemployed.

The state offers online options for Tennesseans searching for employment. Currently, on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov, job seekers can find more than 230,000 open positions in a wide range of occupations and skill levels.

TDLWD recently launched the Tennessee Virtual American Job Center (VAJC). The new website located at www.TNVirtualAJC.com allows Tennesseans to research different programs, from different state agencies, that can help them remove barriers to employment so they can more easily reenter Tennessee’s workforce. The VAJC allows job seekers to do this on their schedule, anytime, anywhere.