Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent, one-tenth percentage point increase from the November revised rate of 5.5 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 5.0 percent, unchanged from the prior month. Economic Summary Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.6 percent to 5.6 percent while the national rate declined from 5.6 percent to 5.0 percent.
Total nonfarm employment increased 19,400 jobs from November to December. The largest increases occurred in administrative/support/waste services, trade/transportation/utilities, & education/health services. Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 64,900 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, & leisure/hospitality.
Unemployment Up Slightly in Tennessee
