Local Unemployment Rate Rises To 23.2 Percent

Nashville, TN (2011-03-10) The unemployment rate in Scott County took a dramatic jump in January, climbing to 23.2 percent, an increase of more than three percent over the seasonally adjusted December 2010 rate.

According to the latest statistics from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the jobless rate in Scott County climbed to 23.2 percent in January; an increase of 3.5 percent over the month. In January 1,970 persons in Scott County were unemployed, an increase of about 300 people. Of the county’s estimated labor force of 8,510, 6,530 had jobs in January. Ironically, the estimated labor force likewise increased by 310 persons over the month, which may have attributed to the jump in joblessness. The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 20.4 percent.

The unemployment rate increased in every county in the state. Of the 95 counties in Tennessee, only one other county experienced such a sharp increase in unemployment. Overton County saw a 3.6 percent increase in joblessness in January, climbing to 13.0 percent.

In neighboring counties, the jobless rate increased from 1.7 to 3.0 percent. Anderson County reported a January jobless rate of 9.4 percent, an increase of 0.9 of a percentage point. Campbell County’s unemployment rate climbed 1.8 percent in January, up to 13.4 percent. Fentress County reported in an increase of 2.0 percent, logging a January jobless rate of 13.1 percent. Morgan County experienced the lowest increase, reporting a January rate of 11.6 percent, an increase of 1.7 percent. Pickett County had the greatest increase, a 3.0 percent climb to 18.4 percent.

Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, up from the December rate of 6.2 percent. Scott County had the state’s highest rate at 23.2 percent followed by Pickett County at 18.4 percent, Marshall County at 16.0 percent, Cocke County at 15.9 percent, and Lauderdale County at 15.9 percent.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.5 percent, up from 6.8 percent in December. Hamilton County was 8.7 percent, up from 7.6 percent the previous month. Davidson County was 8.6 percent, up from 8.1 percent in December, and Shelby County was 10.4 percent, up from 9.4 percent in December.