Each June, Tennessee counties experience an increase in unemployment as schools close for summer break and lay off workers. Recent college graduates entering the workforce for the first time also impact the data each year. Once again this June, data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed jobless rates increased in each of the state’s 95 counties.
In Coffee County, the unemployment rate for June stands at 5.3 percent. This is up 0.9 of a percentage point from the rate of 4.4 percent in May. The 5.3 rate is still far ahead of June 2020, when the unemployment rate stood at 10.2 percent.
While county rates increased in June, the statewide rate ticked down. This can occur because county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, while the state and national rates use the seasonal adjustment to eliminate outside influences, such as school closures, on the statistics.
In June, unemployment rates were less than 5% in 19 Tennessee counties. Seventy-five counties had rates 5% or greater but less than 10%, and one county showed a rate higher than 10%.
Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate. At 3.4%, the county’s June rate increased 0.7 of a percentage point from the previous month.
Perry County’s rate jumped to 13% in June, a spike of 5.9 percentage points when compared to May’s rate.
The statewide unemployment rate for June decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.9%. That is 4.4 percentage points lower than Tennessee’s rate in June 2020.
Nationally, unemployment increased slightly in June from 5.8% to 5.9%. This rate is down 5.2 percentage points when compared to June 2020.
The state has valuable resources available to help unemployed Tennesseans become TN Work Ready and reenter the workforce. They can visit www.TNWorkReady.com to find online and in-person assistance with their job search.
71% of Tennesseans more confident in travel than 3 months ago, survey finds
Traveler confidence is soaring, according to a new AAA Travel survey, fielded in late June. According to the data, nearly three-quarters of Tennesseans (71%) feel more comfortable traveling now than they did three months ago.
Over the course of the past three quarterly AAA Travel surveys, residents’ comfort level has significantly increased as their concern about COVID-19 waned.
Top reasons Tennesseans feel more confident traveling:
· Received their COVID-19 vaccination (47%)
· More confident in safety measures being implemented (31%)
· Less afraid about the dangers of the virus (25%)
Of those who are already or plan to be vaccinated, 39% say travel was a motivating factor in doing so.
“AAA has experienced a surge in demand for travel as more Americans have become vaccinated and feel confident in their ability to vacation safely,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “AAA travel advisors have been inundated with calls from people who want help navigating the growing options for travel. Cruises and guided vacations are fully staffed and typically operating in 2021 with less than full capacity of guests, making a more intimate experience. In addition, these trips are largely inclusive of meals and activities, making it easier to choose a great value for travel in 2021. Our team members who are traveling this summer are having a great time.”
Travel Plans
Nearly seven in ten (69%) Tennesseans have already traveled or plan to take a trip in 2021. Three in five of those (60%) will take their next trip sometime between July and September. Travel volumes have greatly increased from the 54% of Tennesseans who traveled in 2020.
Tennesseans’ Top 5 Vacations in Q3:
· Beach Destination (38%)
· City/Major Metro Destination (28%)
· National/State Park (24%)
· Lake Destination (16%)
· Theme Park (15%)
Cruising
A growing number of Tennesseans are back on board with the idea of cruising. According to new survey data, two in five (40%) Tennesseans feel comfortable taking an ocean or river cruise, with more than a third (35%) planning to cruise in the future.
“We are seeing tremendous enthusiasm among travelers who are ready to set sail on a cruise,” Haas continued. “Ships are filling up fast in 2021. Next year is looking even stronger, as 2022 cruise bookings with AAA are outpacing what we saw in 2019. New options for cruising in 2021 are emerging weekly, so travel advisors can watch for options if they know of your interests.”
Traveler Confusion
A third (33%) of Tennesseans are finding it challenging to understand the COVID-related requirements for international travel. That’s because restrictions and protocols can vary depending on the destination and type of trip, and change as governments adapt to the local situation.
“The value of a travel advisor is greater now than ever before,” Haas continued. “AAA travel advisors have exclusive tools to quickly navigate requirements for each destination, helping travelers make informed decisions and prepare for their trip. Additionally, we leverage long-standing relationships with travel providers to provide options and special benefits that travelers can’t find anywhere else.”
Travel Insurance
Nearly two in five Tennesseans (38%) say they are more likely to purchase travel insurance now than before the pandemic began.
“Travelers were quickly reminded last year that unexpected events can impact your trip at any time,” Haas continued. “Travel insurance is extremely important in today’s environment. There are various policies that can help offset unexpected out of pocket expenses, in case you get sick or your trip is cancelled or delayed. Plus, Travel Insurance provides a range of coverage options in the event that a hurricane disrupts your travel plans. Our travel advisors can help you choose a policy that will allow you to relax and enjoy your vacation.”
Tennessee in top half of population growth among states since 2010 Census
With less natural population growth and decreased immigration, the population of the United States has been growing more slowly every year since 2015, according to new Census Bureau estimates. In fact, the 0.35% growth rate between 2019 and 2020 represents the lowest growth rate in more than a century.
America is now an aging nation, as the age brackets for residents 55 and older are expanding at a pace that far exceeds the younger brackets. Over the past decade, the population of retirement-age residents (65 to 74 years old) soared 48.9% according to Census figures, while those 75 or older grew 24.1%, and those 55 to 64 increased 15.3%. In comparison, the total U.S. population increased by just 6.5% over the same time period, with certain age cohorts experiencing a population decline.
Such dramatic demographic shifts have reshaped the makeup of entire regions, states, and cities as the eldest generation increasingly moves from traditional job havens across the Rust Belt and Northeast to more retirement-friendly locales in the West, Southwest, and Southeast. The growth in housing units over the last 10 years exploded in states like North Dakota (thanks also to the fracking boom), Utah, Idaho, and Texas—all of which reported a roughly 15% or more increase in residential units, according to Census data. New home construction has also been a hot trend in Washington, the Carolinas, South Dakota, and Nevada.
When it comes to population growth, though, the Southwest is the clearest beneficiary of America’s changing demographics. While West Virginia, Illinois, New York, and a few New England states actually shrunk over the last decade, nearly all states between Washington and Texas expanded significantly. Utah led the way at 17.1% population growth between 2010 and 2020, followed by Texas (16.3%), Idaho (16.3%), Nevada (16.1%), Arizona (15.8%), Florida (15.3%), and Colorado (15.1%). Among the most-cited reasons for migration to these states are a lower cost of living and more favorable business conditions. The interior western states have also gained from residents moving out of California.
To find the states that grew the most over the past decade, researchers at Porch calculated the difference between their 2010 and 2020 populations as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The analysis found that in 2010, Tennessee was home to 6,355,518 residents. By 2020, that number swelled to 6,886,834 residents, representing a 8.36% growth in its total population. Out of all U.S. states, Tennessee grew 17th most since 2010.
Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:
• 10-year percentage change in population: 8.36%
• 10-year total population change: 531,316
• Population 2020: 6,886,834
• Population 2010: 6,355,518
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
• 10-year percentage change in population: 6.52%
• 10-year total population change: 20,156,980
• Population 2020: 329,484,123
• Population 2010: 309,327,143
Thunder Radio, Fast Pace Urgent Care teaming up for Bonnaroo ticket giveaway Friday
Thunder Radio will be broadcasting live and on location from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, July 23 at Fast Pace Urgent Care in Manchester: 1415 Hillsboro Blvd.
Stop by during that time and register for a chance to win big prizes: tickets to Lake Winnie, Beech Bend Park, Thunder Radio Swag and TWO BONNAROO TICKETS!
Tune into Thunder Radio at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, thunder1320.com and the Manchester Go smartphone app.
Tennessee reports 20th highest wages for new hires
As the U.S. economy enters a new phase in its recovery from COVID-19, businesses are adding new positions faster than they can fill them. A combination of rapidly expanding job openings, a smaller labor force, and more generous unemployment benefits is pushing wages higher, especially in fields like leisure and hospitality that historically have some of the lowest wages for new workers. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau on new hires, average monthly earnings was $3,266 in 2020—a figure that varies widely by industry, job, and location.
New hires in the information sector—which includes many of the country’s computer programming and technology jobs—were paid the most, at $7,060 per month or nearly $85,000 annually. In comparison, all information workers (including new hires and existing employees) were paid an average monthly wage of $8,825. New employees in the mining, oil and gas, and utilities sectors also commanded strong wages when compared to new hires in other fields.
Despite experiencing strong wage growth at the start of 2021, new hires in accommodation and food services have historically earned the lowest average wages, at just $1,458 per month or about $17,500 annually. Unsurprisingly, industries with low wages overall also pay new hires less, but the gap between new hire pay and all worker pay ranges from a low of approximately 11% in the agricultural sector to over 50% in fields like management, education, and the arts.
In addition to occupation and industry, location has significant direct and indirect effects on real wages. New employees in certain areas might command different wages for a variety of reasons, but differences in cost of living affect how comfortable it is to live on a given wage. When taking cost of living into account, new hires in Washington and Massachusetts earned the most in 2020, at $4,045 and $3,793 per month respectively. Other states with high adjusted wages for new hires included New York and Connecticut. Conversely, workers in Montana, Hawaii, and Idaho earned the least after adjusting for living costs.
To find the states with the highest wages for new hires, researchers at Self analyzed the latest data on new hires from the U.S. Census Bureau, cost-of-living data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and home price data from Zillow. The researchers ranked states according to the cost-of-living adjusted monthly earnings for new hires in 2020. Researchers also calculated the unadjusted monthly earnings for new hires, the unadjusted monthly earnings across all workers, median home price, and cost of living.
The analysis found that new hires in Tennessee are averaging a cost-of-living adjusted $3,149 per month, compared to the $3,266 monthly national average for new hires.
Out of all U.S. states with complete data, Tennessee reports the 20th highest wages for new hires. Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:
– Average monthly earnings for new hires (adjusted): $3,149
– Average monthly earnings for new hires (actual): $2,825
– Average monthly earnings across all workers (actual): $4,104
– Median home price: $218,121
– Cost of living (compared to national average): -10.3%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
– Average monthly earnings for new hires (adjusted): N/A
– Average monthly earnings for new hires (actual): $3,266
– Average monthly earnings across all workers (actual): $4,783
– Median home price: $281,370
– Cost of living (compared to national average): N/A
Motlow EMS program a fast-track to career
Are you looking for a quick pathway to a career? Look no further than Motlow State Community College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program. In as little as three months, you can get EMT basic training certification that can give you a leg up on the competition in any field.
“I saw Motlow State was offering a summer course in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), so I decided to take a leap of faith and register for it. This was probably the best decision I have ever made,” said Gabrielle Hernandez, graduate of Motlow’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program.
“EMS in the State of Tennessee offers many possibilities for individuals regardless of their career choice,” said Houston Austin, Director of EMS as Motlow. “It is not just for working in an ambulance. It is also working event medicine, firefighting, police officers and so much more.”
Not only is it a quick and easy way to earn a certification to jump start your future, it is also more financially feasible than a traditional four-year university.
“By achieving the EMT certification, students can work and make a steady living while continuing on through college,” said Austin, adding “The important thing is no matter where you are in life if you keep your license current you will have always have a job and a career.”
“I would definitely recommend Motlow to anyone looking to go to college. Motlow was the best financial and academic choice I could’ve made with going to college straight out of high school,” said Hernandez. She earned her associate degree in 2020 and went back to obtain her Advanced EMT certification. Hernandez is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at MTSU.
After you earn your certification, you are already on a great path if you are interested in pursuing an associate or higher degree. EMS training is an excellent gateway into pursuing medicine. It’s a way to earn money to put yourself through medical school or nursing school.
Not interested in practicing medicine? That’s ok. EMS training is a great foundation for any degree. You can be a better engineer when you have EMS training. You can be a better athletic coach if you have EMS training. You can be a better farmer with EMS training.
“Some complete the training with no intentions of ever working the ambulance. They want the knowledge to be able to take care of themselves or employees if needed,” said Austin. “We have had farmers, mechanics, coaches, engineers, athletic trainers, and forestry firefighters take this course just for those reasons.”
Give Motlow your summer. EMT training helps students on any career path:
- EMT Certification is a 3-month certification that can set you apart from the competition in any career field.
- With EMT training you can work to fund a medical career.
- EMT training can help you decide what medical career interests you most.
- EMT training allows for you to build a solid foundation no matter where you go in medicine.
- The training is affordable with several forms of financial assistance accepted, such as FASFA, PELL, TNPROMISE, HOPE, RECONNECT, AND GI Bill.
- EMT is the gateway to Advance EMT and eventually earning your AAS in Paramedic.
- EMT can be a gateway to other careers that you may discover along the way.
Motlow State fall classes begin August 23. Apply today to Motlow.com/apply. For more information regarding reduced costs for students, email info@mscc.edu or call 800-654-4877.
Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient, and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. The system offers associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tbr.edu or visit Motlow at mscc.edu.
VFW member Howard Thompson wins prestigious award
Veterans of Foreign Wars All-American Post 10904 is pleased to announce that
Howard Thompson has been selected to receive the prestigious Cooper T. Holt
Award.
This award is awarded to one outstanding VFW member each year; and is based
on his or her achievements, including community work; serving on projects
and programs; and leadership. Of the more than 16,000 VFW members across 91
Posts in the State of Tennessee, Howard Thompson was selected.
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Thompson joined the Army
and served as Executive Officer in Qui Nhon Sub Area Command, Vietnam. He
has served as a past Post Commander for VFW Post 10904 and now serves the
Post as Quartermaster. He is currently the Commander of Disabled American
Veterans (DAV) Chapter 90; and member of American Legion Gold Star Post 78.
Thompson also received the Governor’s Gold Star Volunteer Award for Coffee
County this year for his exemplary community service work.
This VFW Department of Tennessee award is named after Cooper T. Holt. Born
in Chattanooga, he served as VFW National Commander in 1956: at age 32, he
was the youngest person to ever lead the organization.
An individual selected for this award must have shown exceptional prestige
in public events such as Memorial Day or Veterans Day; contributed to
activities in the community; and shown qualities of leadership in dealing
with other organizations and service groups.
VFW Post 10904 Commander Kimberly King notes, “Howard’s service contributed
directly to our Post’s receiving the All-State Post Award for the past four
years, as well as the VFW National All-American Post Award for three years
in a row. This is an unprecedented accomplishment and only given to the very
best VFW Posts in the Nation. Howard’s work and devotion have had a direct
impact on our Post achieving everything it has for the past several years.”
Mr. Thompson will receive his award at an All-American Celebration which
will be held on August 21st at the Coffee County Veterans Building, 130
Shelton Road in Manchester.
For more information and to stay current on the latest VFW news, visit our
website at www.vfwpost10904.com <http://www.vfwpost10904.com
Child abuse leaves long term damage to community, individuals
Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott says child abuse affects not only children but also the entire community. It’s essential to raise awareness, to save children and to minimize the long-term effects of child abuse.
Northcott has seen the negative impacts of child abuse.
“It is something, unfortunately, we deal with quite regularly,” Northcott said. “It ruins relationships, trust and the lives of so many people just by the long-term impact it has on the individual who has been victimized by that type of behavior. Whether it be physical abuse or sexual abuse, it has a detrimental impact, not just the moment of the trauma. It is much more prevalent than a lot of people want to know or would recognize in this community.”
Child abuse can lead to injuries, even death. In 2020, there were four investigations in Coffee County involving the death of a child.
“The damaging impact to the individual is the immediate impact of physical abuse or sexual abuse – certainly broken bones, concussions,” Northcott said. “We have had those instances of sexual abuse that result in pregnancies. And then, beyond that, is the destruction of families, destruction of the ability for the victim to connect with others. It’s just damaging to the emotional wellbeing of the individual. Whether it be physical abuse or sexual abuse, it permeates into marriages, into the ability to parent. If it goes untreated, undiagnosed and undealt with, then there are long-term consequences that impact the community as a whole. The more the destruction to the family within the community, then obviously, the more the negative impact to the community as a whole.”
Raising awareness can help solve the problem.
“Raising awareness is important for the benefit of the victims – to get them out of that abusive relationship as soon as possible,” Northcott said. “(Also), you have to understand the abusers are often family members. Community (members) need to identify some of the red flags that are indicators of child abuse, so they can then report it. Then proper intervention can occur, whether it be through the Department of Children’s Services or law enforcement, or both. At that point, organizations like the Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center can help begin the healing process for the emotional damage in particular that has occurred to that child, and hopefully, minimize and mitigate the long-term effects of this type of abuse.”
Every member of the community can help.
“Know that you can make a difference,” Northcott said. “It is morally incumbent upon us but, also, legally incumbent upon us to act in those situations. Just act. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, be sure to contact law enforcement or (call) the child abuse hotline to make sure we can intervene and investigate further.”
In Tennessee, everyone is a mandated reporter. You can report child abuse anonymously. To report suspicions of child abuse, call 1-877-237-0004. To learn more about child abuse prevention and to schedule child abuse prevention training, visit coffeecountycac.org, call 931-723-8888 and follow Coffee County Children’s Advocacy Center on social media.
Tennessee claims for unemployment plummet during first week of dropped federal funding
The revised reporting of data shows a 28% drop in the number of initial unemployment claims first reported for the week ending July 10, 2021, as Tennessee transitioned away from federal pandemic unemployment programs.
The U.S. Department of Labor reemphasized reporting standards for states that moved away from administering federal pandemic unemployment benefits.
For the week ending July 10, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) reported 9,375 claimants applied for unemployment benefits. Under the reconciled data, the true number of claims for the week is 6,744. This data reflects the number of applications submitted by claimants who worked and earned wages before applying for benefits that week and were not previously receiving other benefits.
The federal government requires the number of initial claims to only reflect new and emerging spells of unemployment with initial claims that are filed to establish benefit periods following a period of employment, not transitional claims.
A transitional claim is the request to establish a successive benefit year dated immediately following a week for which benefits were claimed for the previous benefit year. Moving forward, TDLWD will report initial claims to USDOL without the transitional claim data.
Tennessee moved away from all federal pandemic unemployment programs the week ending July 3. Many of the applicants who submitted claims for the week ending July 10 had previously been on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs. These are transitional claims that are monetarily ineligible to receive benefits from the state’s Tennessee Unemployment Compensation (TUC) program.
The state is ready to help unemployed Tennesseans return to the workforce. They can find the resources available to find job leads, and further their education and training, as well as programs that can remove barriers to employment, at www.TNWorkReady.com.
The state is ready to help unemployed Tennesseans return to the workforce. They can find the resources available to find job leads, further their education, and training, as well as programs that can remove barriers to employment at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Some Tennessee employers pushing for COVID vaccinations
By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service
Some Tennessee employers are ramping up efforts to convince their employees to get vaccinated, as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads.
As of early July, it had accounted for more than 50% of new cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And in Tennessee, the state’s Department of Health reported 125 cases of the Delta variant as of July 8.
Jeff Lamarche, executive director for the General Motors plant in Spring Hill, said his facility has offered onsite vaccinations for employees.
“Two onsite clinics with Murray County Health Department, bringing nurses onsite, provided vaccinations to several hundred employees onsite, in two different clinics, so that means two times of providing both doses,” Lamarche outlined.
Other employers have offered bonuses, paid time off and other incentives to get the shots, but vaccination rates continue to stall. According to an analysis by the New York Times, it would take six months for Tennessee to reach 70% of adults with one dose at the current pace of vaccinations.
Lamarche added despite loosened COVID protocols nationwide, his plant has been cautious to let go of masks and social distancing.
“Even though the CDC has changed their guidelines, the auto industry, basically the Detroit three and the UAW, have, I’d say, stepped back and taken a more cautious approach before we really start to dial back down our protocols,” Lamarche explained.
He acknowledged companies are absorbing the costs of keeping infections at bay, but emphasized higher vaccination rates could reduce expenses to get operations back on track.
“Throughout COVID, we had to deal with higher absenteeism levels, higher costs of the extra protocols we put in place,” Lamarche recounted. “There was a lot just to continue to keep the operation running.”
He reported thousands of Spring Hill plant employees have been vaccinated so far.
