February 2008 Unemployment Figures - County

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2008 was released last week at 5.3 percent, 0.4 percent higher than the January rate of 4.9 percent.  The United States unemployment rate for the month of February was 4.8 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for February 2008, released today, show that 82 counties increased.  The rate decreased in seven counties and remained the same in six counties.  County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal expansions and layoffs that occur during the year.  The state and U.S. unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to eliminate normal seasonal fluctuations and to indicate a more accurate measurement of actual economic change.

Williamson County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, up from the January rate of 3.5.  Perry County had the state’s highest at 11.6 percent, up from 10.2 in January, followed by Pickett County at 11.4 percent, up from 10.6 in January.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 4.3 percent, up from 3.8 in January.  Davidson County was 4.5 percent, up from 4.2 in January.  Hamilton County was at 4.6 percent the same as the January rate, and Shelby County was 5.9 percent, up from the January rate of 5.6.