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Jobless rate highest in five years

Monday, July 28, 2008

The county's unemployment rate jumped to 7.5 percent, an increase of 36 percent over last year, according to preliminary figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

It is the highest rate for Bedford County since June, 2003, when the jobless rate was 8.1 percent. Since then, the county has generally posted its highest unemployment rates in the summer, with January figures also high.

This year, the county's June labor force was tallied at 23,190, with 1,730 unemployed. Last year's unemployment rate for June was reported at 5.5 percent. Revised unemployment numbers for May 2008 showed a rate of 6.1 percent.

Tennessee's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June 2008 was at 6.5 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the May revised rate of 6.4 percent. The United States unemployment rate for the month of June was 5.5 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for June show that unemployment increased in all 95 counties.

Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 4.8 percent, up 0.6 from the May rate of 4.2 percent.

Perry County had the state's highest rate at 14.8 percent, up 1.7 from the May rate of 13.1 percent, followed by Lauderdale County at 11.4 percent, up from 10.8 percent in May.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate at 5.4 percent, up 0.8 from the May rate of 4.6 percent. Davidson County was 5.7 percent, up from 5.0 in May. Hamilton County was at 5.9 percent, up 0.9 from the May rate of 5.0 percent, and Shelby County was 7.4 percent, up from the May rate of 6.3.

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Could this be blamed in part on Tysons, importing illegals then refugees, to do jobs that could be done by locals?

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 11:04 AM

Yes.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 3:20 PM

Its way past time for our City officials, County official and State officials to start doing part of their jobs which is protecting our borders.

Every day we see more and more folks here in town who pretty obviously by their actions are here on a less than legal basis.

WHY IS IT NONE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE BANNING THEM FROM TENNESSEE ???

Not only banning them but evicting them !!

-- Posted by BobM on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 4:43 PM

Also: More taxes on small business, fuel prices, food prices, and taxes on fuel & food. Keep the taxes on. The well will run dry one day.

Seems like the politicians aren't hurting.

Illegal immigration just adds to the problem.

I wish some REAL people would run for office. They have Sharp pencils.

-- Posted by framestraight on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 4:46 PM

I agree its time to stop letting so many foreigners into our country its killing the economy!!! i cant remember the last time i pulled up to a stop light and not seen at least 3-4 car loads enough is enough!!!!!! and know we have one running for president whats going to happen then we americans better wake up before its to late!!!

-- Posted by chris p. on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 5:59 PM

Greatwide Transport at the Wal-Mart DC is moving part of its dispatch operations to Dallas, 5 people have lost their jobs here, effefective Aug. 13th.

-- Posted by tncamper on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 8:01 PM

I am so glad people are wakeing up now!!! I have e-mailed all of our members of congress and the senate, you would not believe where they stand on these issues. Bart Gordon being the main GURU... I think it needs to start with all the illegals that have kids and are able to suck the tax payers dry. The children should not be legal... Where is the legislation? Lets start in Tennessee and get something passed to let illegals know they are not welcome. I think I am going to run in the state... I'm not affraid of what people might say...

-- Posted by SteelerFan on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 10:00 PM

i agree with EVERYBODY ANTI-ILLEGAL!get the %%%% out of here and take your drugs with you.Open season on illegals for one month of the year would probably be enough to stop em from killing all of us!GET LEGEL OR GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by shrtckt2003 on Mon, Jul 28, 2008, at 11:25 PM

First of all, Tennessee has no labor laws to protect the workers.And theres no where to turn if you have a problem with your employer. They can make you work on your days off. Make you do other jobs that you weren't hired to do. And the min.wages scale STINKS.By the time they take out your insurance withdrawl. You have nothing to live off of.The prices of every thing has gone up except our wages.It seems like we are over worked and under paid.Or they hire Temps to do our jobs. And they make sure they let you know, just how easy it could be to get rid of you.

All the ones who are here who are not legal gets all the hand outs that they can get.If they are not legal thier babies shouldn't be either.They are not needy they are GREEDY. Look at the cars or trucks they drive,(oh did I say how they have no insurance or drivers license)

You bet my word, the next few generations better watch out. Because the good ole U S A isn't going to be USA for long.Better take a good look around, make the changes you need. Get rid of the ones holding these town and county jobs,who don't have the "Qualifications" they need to do their jobs.Bedford County is like a garden that needs to be weeded, get rid of the weeds that are controling the county. If you sit back and do nothing. Stop complaining.Because that won't change a thing....

-- Posted by Wheelbillie on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 1:54 AM

Check the 2008 schools students School State Progress report for Central high and Harris middle,as well as Community high,and Community middle,Cascade middle,and Thomas interediate for this year.See where student academic failure leads to future woes such as unemployment based upon lack of math and language skills.A DRESS CODE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM,SCOOL BOARD!!!

-- Posted by grandpat on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 8:05 AM

bedfordtn.com

-- Posted by greasemonkey on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 8:59 AM

The unemployment rate is high but is it because there are no jobs or people don't want to work. Look in the classifieds or online like Monster or Career Builder they have alot of jobs posted. yes you might not find a job you like or want but the majority could find a JOB. I know drawing an unemployment check helps many people, many who need it but there are plenty that milk the system. I'm 36 and never had to draw unemployment i always found a job many of which sucked and I hated but it got me by. As for the illegals working here I agree they should be here legally and pay taxes like us. But the reason they are so popular with employers is because they have a stronger work ethic than Americans. I've managed alot of different race of people and the Latinos that are here either legally or not will work harder with less complaining than Americans. Americans forget how good we have it here and these people are very appriciative of the jobs and wages that are offered here.

-- Posted by Not_a_richboy on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 4:23 PM

Get rid of the temp-to-hire agencies. Who wants to work alongside a full-time permanent employee doing the same job for a fraction of the pay with no benefits or incentives? There is no wonder people would rather sit home and draw unemployment. Better to get part-time pay for not working at all, than to work full time and get part-time pay! Open your eyes industries, workers will be more productive if they know there is a future or some type of stability and security associated with their jobs.

-- Posted by writeattitude on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 5:10 PM

"Recuerden el Alamo!"

* William Barret TRAVIS

(Commander of the Alamo) : One of the first to fall, he died defending the north wall at an early hour on March 6. He was 26 years old.

* James BOWIE

(Co-commander of the Alamo): Killed in his bed, where he laid sick with pneumonia, in a small room in the south side. He was 41 years old.

* David (Davy) CROCKETT

His body was found in small fort in the west side. He was 50 years old.

* 28 Officers

* 30 volunteers from South Carolina (along with William B. Travis)

* 15 volunteers from Tennessee (along with David Crockett)

* 32 volunteers from Gonzales (the only who responded to the repeated appeals for help of Colonel Travis)

* all other volunteers (81) came from different countries (England, Scotland, Germany, Ireland) and from various States.

Forty-six days later, on April 21, 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto, where 783 men led by General Sam Houston defeated 1,500 Mexicans.

The battle lasted only eighteen minutes.

When all was over, 630 men of the Mexican army were dead; 730 were prisoners.

Nine Texans lost their lives.

General Santa Anna, disguised as a peasant, was captured the following day.

The independence of Texas was won !

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas,

-- Posted by Kilowatt on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 5:18 PM

Kilowatt

What does anything you said have to do with this story????

-- Posted by Not_a_richboy on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 7:49 PM

Nissan offered some of their employees a buy out to quit their jobs yesterday

-- Posted by Dianatn on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 7:58 PM

right back at you rsimm ???

-- Posted by Kilowatt on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 8:33 PM