Employment Security Division

TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development

Employment Security administers the Unemployment Compensation program for workers who have lost their job by no fault of their own. The program is funded by Tennessee employers through Unemployment Insurance.

Call Employment Security at 844-224-5818 (Unemployment, Option 1; Employer Accounts, Option 2)

About the Employment Security Division

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Employment Security Division administers Tennessee’s Unemployment Compensation program, or unemployment benefits. In addition to administering the state unemployment compensation program, the Division is also tasked with implementing and administering federal unemployment programs as they are in effect.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a benefit program funded by Tennessee employers for workers who have lost their job by no fault of their own. Qualified applicants are eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks of unemployment insurance in a year.

There are four Claims Operations Centers located in Nashville, Chattanooga, Crossville, and Knoxville where staff process unemployment claims.

Claim adjudications and appeals are also processed in the Division. An adjudicator investigates a claim and decides on the claimant’s eligibility to receive benefits. Both claimants and employers can appeal departmental decisions relating to claims.

Contact Information

Department Communication Tools for Job Seekers and Claimants
Service How to Access Details
Check out the Department's website for information on filing a claim for unemployment benefits. www.tn.gov/workforce/unemployment Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) main website
Start a claim, check claim status, file weekly certifications (logs) of required job-search activities, and find and apply for job openings at Jobs4TN.gov. www.Jobs4TN.gov
(a TDLWD website)
A Jobs4TN account is required for unemployment benefits. An account also offers access to many helpful services. Not all information offered at Jobs4TN.gov requires an account to access.
TNWorkReady.com is a one-stop website for job seekers. www.TNWorkReady.com
(a TDLWD website)
Overview of Department's major services for job seekers
Apprenticeship TN gives opportunities to earn while you learn. www.ApprenticeshipTN.com
(a TDLWD website)
With an apprenticeship, job seekers can learn a new trade, while earning a paycheck. Apprenticeship TN can help you find a program in your area of Tennessee. The state can also work with employers to start programs.
American Job Centers (AJC) serve people in all of Tennessee's counties by offering free services to meet employment needs. www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/job-search1/find-local-american-job-center Career specialists can help job seekers or career changers map out a path to new employment and also provide other job search resources.
Mobile American Job Centers (MAJC), or "Mobile Coaches," are simply an AJC on wheels that schedules stops throughout the state. www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/job-search1/mobile-american-job-centers The Department's many Mobile Coaches are one-stop job centers inside a large van equipped with Internet access, printers, and knowledgeable staff.
The Virtual American Job Centers (VAJC) website is the official website of the AJC. www.tnvirtualajc.com
(a TDLWD website)
Use the virtual American Job Center’s service matcher to find programs that can remove barriers to employment, like childcare or uniform costs. You can do this online, anytime, anywhere.
Help Desk lwdsupport.tn.gov/hc/en-us
(a TDLWD website)
Read FAQs to get answers to your questions. Or submit a request to Customer Support staff and receive an emailed response.
Get instant answers from our bot OR chat with TDLWD Customer Support Click on blue "Help" button at bottom right of a Department webpage (or the blue "conversation bubble" icon on a smartphone) to open a dialogue window. You must be on the TDLWD website to access chat -- that's any webpage that begins with https://www.tn.gov/workforce.
TN Department of Labor and Workforce phone number 844-224-5818 Please call during business hours.

This Page Last Updated: June 20, 2022 at 3:57 PM