May unemployment up across the UC

CBJ Admin
Thursday, Jun 28, 2012

UPPER CUMBERLAND – Unemployment in the Upper Cumberland hit an uptick in May as all 14 counties in the region saw jumps.

The increases varied, from Smith, which was the region’s best performer at 6.7 percent unemployment in April but bumped to 7.0 percent for May, to Pickett, which had the area’s highest rate in both April and May, 12.0 and 12.3 percent, respectively. The biggest gains were in Jackson, with a 0.8 percentage point swing, and Putnam, which saw a 0.7 percentage point gain.

The region’s numbers followed a statewide trend, as Tennessee’s unemployment for May rose to 7.9 percent, up from April’s revised rate of 7.7. Overall, rates increased in 87 of the state’s 95 counties. Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis said the increase was the first for the state since November 2010.

The national unemployment rate for May was 8.2 percent, up from 8.1 percent in April.

May
Cannon	7.7
Clay	9.5
Cumberland	8.9
DeKalb	7.8
Fentress	8.7
Jackson	8.7
Macon	7.9
Overton	8.3
Pickett	12.3
Putnam	7.9
Smith	7.0
Van Buren	11.0
Warren	8.9
White	11.2