Unemployment rate shows slight rise

Monday, April 28, 2008

Bedford County's unemployment rate for March rose slightly to 5.8 percent, according to figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

The county reportedly had a total work force of 22,940, with 21,610 working and 1,330 unemployed, meaning that the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percent since February.

Tennessee's unemployment rate for March was 5.6 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the February rate of 5.3. In 2007 the March unemployment rate was 4.5 percent. The national unemployment rate for March was 5.1 percent, up from the February national rate of 4.8 percent.

"The national rise in unemployment accompanied by slow job growth corresponds with Tennessee's employment picture," said Commissioner James Neeley. "Similar to the rest of the nation, we are experiencing a decline in jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector."

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for March show that 50 counties increased. The rate decreased in 27 counties and remained the same in 18 counties. County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal expansions and layoffs that occur during the year.

Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, the same as the February rate. Perry County had the state's highest at 12.1 percent, up from 11.6 in February, followed by Clay County at 11.1 percent, up from 10.3 percent in February.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate at 4.3 percent, the same as the February rate. Davidson County was 4.7 percent, up from 4.5 in February. Hamilton County was at 4.7 percent up 0.1 percent from February, and Shelby County was 6.2 percent, up from the February rate of

February to March gains occurred in leisure and hospitality employment increasing by 6,600; trade, transportation and utilities employment increased 4,400; and jobs in construction, natural resources and mining increased 2,500. Month-to-month declines included information employment, down 200. Employment in plastic and rubber products manufacturing lost 200 jobs.

From March 2007 to March 2008, increases led with gains of 8,400 jobs in educational and health services. Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 2,800; and government jobs were up 2,000. Manufacturing jobs were down from a year ago with employment decreasing by 13,500; financial activities employment lost 1,200 jobs.

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are these figures a total of everyone, or do the reflect transplanted somalians or hispanics. this is just the begining. we can expect unemployment to rise every month.

-- Posted by farmerman on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 11:50 AM

hey i think that there firing a lot of people and putting the rest of them on part time so they dont have to give them benifits

-- Posted by redneck on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 12:16 PM

hey i think that there firing a lot of people and putting the rest of them on part time so they dont have to give them benifits

-- Posted by redneck on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 12:16 PM

They also hire them threw the "Temp Services" benefits are offered, but they are to high to afford with the pay they make.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Mon, Apr 28, 2008, at 5:49 PM