Warren County’s unemployment rate holds steady

New data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) shows strong job market performance across the state in May, with 94 of Tennessee’s 95 counties reporting unemployment rates below 5 percent.

In 69 counties, unemployment rates decreased from April to May. Rates remained the same in 18 counties and increased in eight counties.

Williamson County reported the state’s lowest unemployment rate for May at 2.4 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month.

Three counties — Cheatham, Dickson, and Knox — followed with rates of 2.5 percent.

Sevier, Wilson, Rutherford, Sumner, Macon, and Blount counties rounded out the list of the lowest unemployment rates for the month. All had rates of 2.6 percent.

Perry County was the only county whose unemployment rate was above 5 percent in May. At 5.3 percent, the rate was the same as last month.

Hancock and Pickett counties followed with rates of 4.7 percent. Hancock’s rate was down half a percentage point from April, and Pickett’s rate was up two-tenths of a percentage point.

For the fourth month in a row, Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in May. Unlike the statewide rate, county rates are not adjusted to account for seasonal impacts on employment.

News Editor’s Note: Warren County’s unemployment rate for May was 3.4 percent, which remained unchanged from the previous month.