Unemployment rates declined in nearly half of Tennessee’s counties in August and remained the same in 20 counties, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
Forty-seven of the state’s 95 counties saw a drop in their unemployment rates from July to August. Rates increased in 28 counties and stayed the same in 20 counties. All but three counties had rates below 5%.
Sevier County in East Tennessee recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate for the month, 2.5%. This rate was one-tenth of a percentage point higher than the county’s July rate of 2.4%.
Moore County had the next lowest rate for August at 2.6%, a decrease of three-tenths of a percentage point from July. Williamson County followed with a rate of 2.7%, a one-tenth of a percentage point increase.
Houston County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 5.7%, a two-tenths of a percentage point increase over its July rate.
Bledsoe County decreased from 5.7% in July to 5% in August. Grundy County’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.1 to 4.6%. Marion County fell from 4.3 to 3.9%. Sequatchie County increased from 3.9% in July to 4% in August.