Seasonal Employment Shifts Impact County Jobless Rates

NASHVILLE – Seasonal changes in employment that occur annually, such as school breaks, led to an increase in county unemployment rates across Tennessee, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Unlike the statewide rate, county rates are not adjusted to account for seasonal impacts on employment.

All 95 Tennessee counties reported an increase in their unemployment rates in June over the previous month. Seventy-one counties had unemployment rates of less than 5%. The remaining 24 counties recorded rates of 5% or greater, with the highest at 6.2%.

Sevier and Cheatham counties recorded the lowest unemployment rates in the state at 3.2%. Both counties’ rates were up five-tenths of a percentage point over their May rates.

Williamson and Wilson counties followed with the next-lowest unemployment rates at 3.3%.

Perry County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in June. At 6.2%, it was 1.4 percentage points higher than the previous month.

Johnson and Meigs counties each reported rates of 5.9%.

Data released last week showed Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 3.5%. The U.S. rate was 4.1%.

Tennessee’s Virtual American Job Center website is chock-full of employment resources. Job seekers can explore programs, learn about upcoming job fairs and outreach events, and use the Service Wizard tool to find the services that are best suited for them.

For those who prefer in-person help, qualified staff at American Job Centers are available to answer questions and provide job seekers with the right tools for success.

Tennessee will release statewide unemployment data for July 2025 on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

A complete analysis of June 2025 county unemployment data for Tennessee