By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
UPPER CUMBERLAND – While the state’s overall record-low unemployment rate continues to hold steady, October’s jobless rates across the Upper Cumberland region are up slightly from the numbers reported for September.
Last week, the UCBJ reported the state’s record-setting overall unemployment rate held steady for the second-straight month. At 3 percent, Tennessee is tied with Iowa for the eighth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation.
While the county-by-county unemployment rates are up slightly across the UC, October’s rates are still significantly lower than those reported this time last year. With the exception of Clay (4.1) and Jackson (4.0) counties, the remainder of the region’s counties reported unemployment rates below 4 percent.
Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Van Buren, Warren, and White all reported increased unemployment rates in October.
| Counties | October 2017 | September 2017 |
October 2016 |
| Cannon | 2.8 | 2.7 | 4.9 |
| Clay | 4.1 | 3.6 | 6.2 |
| Cumberland | 3.3 | 3.3 | 6.0 |
| DeKalb | 3.8 | 3.6 | 5.8 |
| Fentress | 3.7 | 3.5 | 5.9 |
| Jackson | 4.0 | 3.8 | 7.3 |
| Macon | 2.7 | 2.7 | 4.5 |
| Overton | 3.6 | 3.2 | 5.5 |
| Pickett | 3.4 | 3.0 | 6.5 |
| Putnam | 2.9 | 2.8 | 5.1 |
| Smith | 2.6 | 2.6 | 4.6 |
| Van Buren | 3.5 | 3.4 | 6.2 |
| Warren | 3.5 | 3.0 | 5.5 |
| White | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5.3 |
| UC | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5.5 |
| TN | 3.0 | 2.9 | 5.0 |
| US | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.7 |
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, nearly all of the state’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5 percent. Rhea and Lauderdale counties topped 5 percent with 5.4 and 5.3, respectively.
While statewide and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted, county rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, and other recurring seasonal events.
