Scott Jobless Rate Declined Slightly In September

Nashville, TN (2011-10-27) The jobless rate in Scott County declined slightly in September. Despite the decline, Scott County once again has the highest jobless rate in the State of Tennessee.

The unemployment rate in Scott County dipped 0.2 percentage point in September, down to 19.5 percent. While the local rate went down, it is still the highest in the state and is 2.5% higher than Obion County, which has the second highest rate at 17.0 percent. Across the state, the rate increased in 51 counties, decreased in 32 counties, and 12 counties remained the same.

According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 1610 Scott County workers were jobless in September. Of the county’s estimated labor force of 8,230, 6,630 were employed. The rate dropped 0.2 percentage point of the month and was 0.5 percentage point higher than a year ago.

Of the five counties contiguous to Scott, the rate decrease in three, increase in one and remained unchanged in the other. Anderson County experienced a 0.1 percentage point decrease in joblessness, down from 8.9 percent in August to 8.8 percent in September. Morgan County and Pickett County likewise experienced declines in unemployment. Morgan County’s jobless rate went from 10.6 percent in August to 10.5 percent in September. Pickett County reported 0.3 percentage point decline over the month, dropping to 13.8 percent. Campbell County was the only neighboring county to experience an increase in unemployment, climbing from 11.5 to 11.7 percent in September. Fentress County’s jobless rate remained unchanged over the month, holding at 11.2 percent.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, up from the August rate of 6.4 percent, followed by Williamson County at 6.9 percent, up from 6.8 percent. Scott County had the state’s highest unemployment rate, followed by Obion County at 17.0, up from 16.6 percent in August. Weakley County had the third highest rate, reporting a September jobless number of 15.2 percent. At 14.2 percent, Lauderdale County had the fourth highest unemployment rate. Perry County rounded out the top five with a September jobless rate of 14.1 percent. Marshall County was sixth at 13.9 percent, while Pickett County was seventh at 13.8. Gibson and Dyer Counties were tied for eighth and ninth, both reporting jobless rates of 13.7 percent. Haywood County was tenth at 13.5 percent.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 7.7 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Hamilton County was 8.6 percent, also unchanged from August. Davidson County was 8.7 percent, down from 8.8 percent in August, and Shelby County was 10.8 percent, up from the August unemployment rate of 10.4 percent.