Unemployment rates for October 2016, released last week by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, decreased in 80 counties, increased in seven, and remained the same in eight counties.
Once again Middle Tennessee counties, led by Williamson, as well as Knox County in East Tennessee, registered the lowest unemployment rates.
Williamson County’s 3.5 percent unemployment in October was down from 3.7 percent in September. Among Williamson’s neighbors, Rutherford County went from 4.0 percent in September to 3.8 percent in October. Maury went from 4.3 percent to 4.1 percent, Cheatham went from 4.2 to 4.0, Dickson went from 4.6 to 4.4, and Hickman went from 4.7 to 4.6.
For the month of October, Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 3.7 percent, decreasing from 3.9 percent the previous month. Knox County was 4.1 percent in October, down from 4.3 percent in September. The Hamilton County rate was 5.0 percent, decreasing from 5.1 the previous month. Shelby County was 5.7 percent, also decreasing from 5.8 the previous month.
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for October was 4.8 percent, increasing two-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for October was 4.9 percent, decreasing one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month.
