County's jobless rate shows slight increase during November

Preliminary unemployment figures released Wednesday showed a slight rise in the county's jobless rate.

Unemployment in Bedford County in November held steady at 12.3 percent, the same figure released for October. However, revised figures for October resulted in a rate of 12.2 percent for that month, indicating the county jobless rate increased by 0.1 percent.

In November, the county had a labor force of 21,730, with 19,050 working and 2,670 unemployed, according to preliminary figures.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for November show that the rate decreased in 50 counties, increased in 36, and remained the same in nine counties.

Neighboring Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, down 0.2 from its October rate. Lauderdale County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 18.6 percent, down 0.2 from the October rate, followed by Haywood County at 18.0 percent, up from 17.9 percent in October.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the October rate. Hamilton County was at 8.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the October rate. Davidson County was 8.8 percent, down 0.1 from the previous month, and Shelby County was 10.0 percent, down 0.1 from the October rate.

Tennessee's unemployment rate for November was 10.3 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the October rate of 10.5 percent.

The November rate a year ago was 7.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for November 2009 was 10.0 percent, down from the October rate of 10.2 percent.

"As the year ends, we're seeing evidence the economy is bottoming out and beginning to show some modest employment growth, which is encouraging news," reported Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley.

According to the Business Survey, from October to November, 7,300 job gains occurred in retail trade; 1,800 in professional and business services; and 1,300 in health care and social assistance.

Major employment decreases occurred in durable goods manufacturing, down by 1,800; arts, entertainment and recreation declined by 1,300; and mining and construction declined by 1,000 jobs.

Compared to last year, job increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 7,500; federal government increased 1,500; and local government educational services gained 1,100.

However, manufacturing decreased by 29,800 jobs; mining and construction lost 28,200; and trade, transportation and utilities declined by 23,300.