The impact of school breaks increases county jobless rates

By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ

NASHVILLE – Each June, Tennessee counties experience an increase in unemployment as schools close for summer break and lay off workers. Recent college graduates entering the workforce for the first time also impact the data each year. Once again this June, data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed jobless rates increased in each of the state’s 95 counties, with the Upper Cumberland’s jobless rate increasing from 4.5% to 5.7%.

While county rates increased in June, the statewide rate ticked down from 5.0% to 4.9%. This can occur because county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, while the state and national rates use the seasonal adjustment to eliminate outside influences, such as school closures, on the statistics.

In June, unemployment rates were less than 5% in 19 Tennessee counties, including two U.C. counties, Cannon at 4.9% and Smith at 4.6%, which are both a part of the Nashville metropolitan statistical area. Seventy-five counties had rates 5% or greater but less than 10%, and one county showed a rate higher than 10%. Clay County at 7.5% has the highest jobless rate in the region and the biggest increase, 2.0 percentage points, over May’s rate.

Nationally, unemployment increased slightly in June from 5.8% to 5.9%. This rate is down 5.2 percentage points when compared to June 2020.

The U.C. had four counties with rates higher than the nation’s rate, Clay (7.5%), Cumberland (6.5%), DeKalb (6.2%) and Jackson (6.1%).

Other rates within the U.C. include Fentress (5.6%), Macon (5.0%), Overton (5.1%), Pickett (5.7%), Putnam (5.4%), Van Buren (6.8%), Warren (6.3%) and White (5.2%).

Statewide, Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate. At 3.4%, the county’s June rate increased 0.7 of a percentage point from the previous month. Perry County recorded the state’s highest rate jumping to 13% in June, a spike of 5.9 percentage points when compared to May’s rate.

The statewide unemployment rate for June decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.9%. That is 4.4 percentage points lower than Tennessee’s rate in June 2020.

TDLWD has produced a complete analysis of the county unemployment data, including the state’s larger cities, as well as the metro and micropolitan areas. That data can be accessed here.

The state has valuable resources available to help unemployed Tennesseans become TN Work Ready and reenter the workforce. They can visit www.TNWorkReady.com to find online and in-person assistance with their job search.

June 2021 Lowest, Highest County Unemployment Rates in Tennessee

Michelle Price is the former managing editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and can be reached via email. Send an email.

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