Jobless rate falls again

The county's jobless rate has dropped again -- this time falling to 8.9 percent, according to the latest preliminary numbers released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

There were 2,030 Bedford County residents to claim unemployment in December, with 20,660 working out of a labor force of 22,690. The jobless rate fell 0.4 percent from the revised figure of 9.3 percent in November.

At this time last year, the county had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent -- a drop of nearly 2 percent.

State rate falls

Last week, it was announced that state's unemployment rate for last month fell to 8.7 percent, down from the November revised rate of 9.1. The national unemployment rate for December was 8.5 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the November rate.

"This is the lowest unemployment rate Tennessee has experienced since December 2008 when the rate was 8.4 percent," Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development Karla Davis said. "The drop in Tennessee's rate is largely due to a notable increase of 11,200 employed persons from November to December."

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for December showed that the rate decreased in 56 counties, increased in 27 counties, and remained the same in 12 counties.

Lowest, highest

Williamson and Lincoln counties registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 5.4 percent. Both counties had higher rates in November with Williamson at 5.8 percent and Lincoln at 5.6 percent.

Scott County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 18.8 percent, up from 17.5 percent in the previous month, followed by Obion County at 15.3, which was unchanged from the November rate.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 5.9 percent, down from 6.3 percent in November. Davidson County was 6.9 percent, down from 7.3 percent in the previous month.

Hamilton County was 7.2 percent, down from 7.4 percent, and Shelby County was 8.8 percent, down from the November unemployment rate of 9.3 percent.

Strong growth

UT Economist Bill Fox stated the Tennessee rate parallels the national picture, but that Tennessee has had much stronger employment growth.

From November to December, professional and business services increased 5,400 jobs; durable goods manufacturing was up by 1,000 jobs; and clothing and clothing accessories stores increased by 700 jobs.

During the same period, leisure and hospitality decreased by 3,500 jobs; state government educational services was down 2,500 jobs; and mining, logging, and construction declined by 1,900 jobs.

Year-over-year increases took place in local government education services, up 11,200 jobs; mining, logging, and construction was up 7,100 jobs; and manufacturing increased by 6,900 jobs.

Employment decreases took place in trade, transportation, and utilities, which were down by 5,500 jobs; information was down 1,300 jobs; and hospitals declined by 900 jobs.