April Unemployment Rate 9.9 Percent

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for April was 9.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the revised March rate of 9.6 percent. The April rate a year ago was 6.0 percent. The national unemployment rate for April 2009 was 8.9 percent, up from the March rate of 8.5 percent.

 

“The unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in 25 years,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Tennessee still has more manufacturing than the national average as well as wholesale and retail distribution. This environment, along with the reduction in goods consumption, has had a big impact on Tennessee’s economy.”

 

According to the Business Survey, 6,300 job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality; 1,100 in nondurable goods manufacturing; and 1,100 in retail trade. Major employment decreases occurred in professional and business services, down by 1,800; educational and health services declined by 1,500 jobs; and wholesale trade decreased by 1,500.

 

 

Year-over-year increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 9,400; local government increased 1,700; and food services and drinking places gained 1,300; manufacturing was down 40,500; trade transportation and utilities lost 28,900; and mining and construction decreased by 25,400.

 

-###-