County's jobless rate rises slightly for August

Friday, September 25, 2009

Bedford County's jobless rate has risen slightly to 12.5 percent for the month of August, according to preliminary figures released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The rate rose 0.1 percentage point from the revised July figure of 12.4 percent unemployment for the county.

Labor force estimates released Thursday put the county's total workforce at 22,850, with 20,000 working and 2,860 unemployed.

Tennessee's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August is at 10.8 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the July rate of 10.7 percent, the state reported last week.

The United States' unemployment rate for the month of August was 9.7 percent.

Tennessee's unemployment rate of 10.8 percent is the highest since November 1983.

"The unemployment rate has been at approximately the same level for the past four months, which is consistent with a labor market that appears to be stabilizing," Labor Commissioner James Neeley said.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for August show that the rate increased in 47 counties, decreased in 42 counties and remained the same in six counties.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in July.

Lauderdale County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 19.7 percent, up from 19.5 in July, followed by Scott County at 19.2 percent, down from 19.5 percent in July.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.7 percent, up 0.5 percentage point from the July rate. Hamilton County was at 9.4 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the July rate.

Davidson County was 9.6 percent, up 0.4 from the previous month, and Shelby County was 10.6 percent, up 0.3 from the July rate.

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Meanwhile, the chorus of OOOOOPS!!! among Obama supporters is getting LOUDER!

-- Posted by Tattoos & Scars on Sat, Sep 26, 2009, at 7:19 PM

keep in mind the unemployment rate is based on those drawing unemployment benefits this does not take into account those who were not eligible for unemployment or those who's unemployment benefits have run out but still have not found jobs

-- Posted by Dianatn on Sat, Sep 26, 2009, at 8:35 PM