State’s unemployment rate makes history, again

By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor

NASHVILLE – “Another record broken.” That’s the message the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently shared announcing the state’s continuing streak of record-low unemployment rates.

According to the latest report from the US Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, September’s unemployment rate stands at 3.0 percent; down from the 3.3 percent rate reported in August and a 1.9 percentage point tumble from the 4.9 percent unemployment rate reported for September 2016.

“Since June, the state’s unemployment rate has been on a steady, record-breaking decline. Behind these history-making figures are real working Tennesseans – people who get up and go to work each day to provide for their families,” Gov. Bill Haslam said.

“As a state, we have invested in our workforce through education programs like Tennessee Reconnect and Tennessee Promise, creating a workforce prepared to fill jobs and increasing the number of high-skilled Tennesseans,” he added.

This marks the fourth straight month the state’s unemployment rate has hit an all-time low. The nationwide unemployment rate currently stands at 4.2 percent; down 0.7 percentage points from September 2016.

County unemployment rates will be released later this month.

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