Putnam Leads Workforce Scale as Smaller Rural Counties Show Higher Volatility
(UCBJ) – The Upper Cumberland had a combined unemployment rate of approximately 3.5% for April 2026. The labor market was steady in the area. Pickett and Van Buren showed higher volatility, but the UC market remains stable heading into late spring.
The region’s total labor force reached 208,394, with 201,156 employed and 7,238 unemployed, according to the state of TN.
Regional Workforce Remains Steady Across 14 Counties
County-by-county figures show the region in the mid-3% unemployment range, with most counties remaining near or below the regional average.
• Cannon County: 7,011 labor force | 2.7% unemployment
• Clay County: 2,934 | 3.6%
• Cumberland County: 23,282 | 3.8%
• DeKalb County: 20,613 | 3.3%
• Fentress County: 17,976 | 3.5%
• Jackson County: 10,609 | 3.1%
• Macon County: 23,467 | 3.6%
• Overton County: 10,663 | 3.1%
• Pickett County: 1,664 | 4.5%
• Putnam County: 38,483 | 3.2%
• Smith County: 20,574 | 4.1%
• Van Buren County: 2,730 | 3.0%
• Warren County: 17,269 | 3.4%
• White County: 11,119 | 3.9%
Putnam County Continues to Anchor Employment Base
Putnam County has always been the region’s anchor, and it is still the region’s largest labor market with more than 38,000 workers. Cumberland and Macon counties also remain strong workforce markets and centers.
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