Pickett County Posted The State’s Third-Highest Unemployment Rate
(UCBJ) – Seasonal workforce changes tied to the summer break contributed to higher unemployment rates across Tennessee in June, including throughout the Upper Cumberland, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The annual break sidelined many school employees, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodial staff, leading to an increase in county unemployment rates. Unlike the statewide unemployment rate, county rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Unemployment rates increased in 94 of Tennessee’s 95 counties between May and June. Maury County was the only county to post a decline, falling by one-tenth of a percentage point.
Across the Upper Cumberland, unemployment rates ranged from 3.1% in Macon County to 5.6% in Pickett County. The region’s combined unemployment rate increased to 3.8% in June.
Across the Upper Cumberland:
- Cannon County: 3.4%
- Clay County: 4.6%
- Cumberland County: 4.4%
- DeKalb County: 4.0%
- Fentress County: 4.5%
- Jackson County: 4.4%
- Macon County: 3.1%
- Overton County: 4.1%
- Pickett County: 5.6%
- Putnam County: 3.4%
- Smith County: 3.5%
- Van Buren County: 4.5%
- Warren County: 4.0%
- White County: 4.5%
Statewide, 84 counties reported unemployment rates below 5%, while the remaining 11 counties posted rates of 5% or higher. Cheatham and Sevier counties recorded Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rates in June at 3%. Cheatham’s rate increased six-tenths of a percentage point from May, while Sevier’s rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point.
Wilson, Williamson, Sumner, Dickson and Rutherford counties followed with unemployment rates of 3.1%.
Perry County recorded Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in June at 6%, an increase of seven-tenths of a percentage point from May. Hancock County followed at 5.7%, up 1 percentage point, while Pickett County posted the state’s third-highest unemployment rate at 5.6%, an increase of eight-tenths of a percentage point.
Image by rawpixel.com on Magnific.
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