Pickett Posts Highest Rate, Cannon and Macon Remain Among The Region’s Lowest
(UCBJ) – The Upper Cumberland’s labor market continued to show strength in May as the region’s combined unemployment rate fell to 3.3%, according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The region’s unemployment rate improved from April in several counties and remained below 4% in all but one county.
Pickett County recorded the region’s highest unemployment rate at 4.7%, followed by White County at 3.9% and Cumberland County at 3.8%. Cannon County and Macon County posted the region’s lowest unemployment rates at 2.6%, while Smith County followed at 2.9% and Putnam County reported a 3.1% rate.
Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Smith and Van Buren counties experienced slight month-over-month increases in unemployment rates.
According to TDLWD, the Upper Cumberland reported a labor force of 160,900 workers in May. Of those, 155,569 were employed and 5,331 were unemployed.
Putnam County reported a labor force of 38,390 workers, with 37,183 employed and 1,207 unemployed. Its 3.1% unemployment rate was down from 3.2% in April and 3.3% one year ago.
These numbers are stable across the UC, and rates have remained below state and historical averages.
Upper Cumberland unemployment rates for May 2026
- Cannon County: 2.6%
- Macon County: 2.6%
- Smith County: 2.9%
- Putnam County: 3.1%
- Van Buren County: 3.1%
- Overton County: 3.2%
- Fentress County: 3.3%
- Warren County: 3.4%
- Jackson County: 3.6%
- Clay County: 3.7%
- DeKalb County: 3.7%
- Cumberland County: 3.8%
- White County: 3.9%
- Pickett County: 4.7%
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