One in 10 out of work locally

A long line of applicants could be seen early this morning at the state employment security office on North Main Street. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Order this photo]

Bedford County's unemployment rate has nearly doubled in the past year, according to preliminary figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The jobless rate for February is currently at 10.8 percent, a hike of 1.1 percent points since January and 83 percent higher than the unemployment rate of 5.9 percent at this time last year.

Preliminary figures indicate Bedford County had a work force of 22,750 people, with 20,300 employed and 2,450 people out of work, 250 more than recorded in January for the county.

According to Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley, the jobless data highlights "the severity of the deepening recession in Tennessee."

"The statewide unemployment rate remains on an upward trend, and the number of unemployed persons has climbed to the highest level since we began keeping these records in 1973," said Neeley.

Tennessee's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was at 9.1 percent, 0.5 percentage point higher than the January rate of 8.6 percent while the nationwide unemployment rate for February was at 8.1 percent.

County non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates for February show that the rate increased in 63 counties, decreased in 29 counties and remained the same in three counties.

Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, down from 6.8 percent in January.

Perry County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 24.1 percent, down from 27.3 in January, followed by Scott County at 18.1 percent, up from 17.7 percent in January.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.2 percent, up 0.6 percentage point from the January rate. Davidson County was 7.5 percent, up 0.6 from the previous month.

Hamilton County was at 7.9 percent, up 0.6 percentage point from the January rate, and Shelby County was 8.6 percent, up from the January rate of 8.5 percent.

January-to-February job losses totaled 7,800. Declines included trade, transportation and utilities, down 4,900; manufacturing was down 3,200, and professional and business services lost 3,000 jobs.

Job gains occurred in government (primarily state and local educational services), increasing by 5,600; private educational services, increased by 2,100; and transportation equipment added 1,300 jobs.

The over the year comparison from February 2008 to February 2009 shows a net loss of 110,700 jobs statewide. Manufacturing jobs are down by 39,200; trade, transportation and utilities have lost 28,600 jobs: and mining and construction are down by 20,900.

Health care and social assistance increased by 10,100 over the year; local government increased 3,800 and telecommunications increased by 1,000.