Tennessee's Unemployment Rate for January 5.4%

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for January was 5.4 percent, two-tenths of a percentage point decrease from the December revised rate of 5.6 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for January was 4.9 percent, one-tenth of one percentage point lower than the prior month.

Economic Summary

• Over the past year, Tennessee's unemployment rate decreased from 6.1 percent to 5.4 percent while the national rate declined from 5.7 percent to 4.9 percent.
• Total nonfarm employment increased 13,100 jobs from December to January. The largest increases occurred in retail trade, mining/logging/construction, & professional/business services.
• Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 96,000 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, & education/health services.

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