Rutherford County, TN - The end of seasonal holiday jobs in January can be counted as one of the contributing factors that led to higher county unemployment rates across Tennessee for the month. While statewide unemployment numbers are adjusted to consider the impacts of seasonal labor, county unemployment rates are not adjusted.

Rutherford County as a whole had the 6th lowest unemployment number in the state at 2.7%. However, that same rate was shared by Cheatham (3rd lowest), Wilson (4th lowest) and Davidson (5th lowest) Counties. Smyrna's unemployment rate in January was the lowest in Rutherford County at 2.6%. One month prior in December, Smyrna's unemployment rate was 0.3 points lower at 2.3%.  LaVergne had the second lowest unemployment figure for January at 2.8%. LaVergne's December rate was 0.4 points lower at 2.4%. Murfreesboro recorded a jobless rate of 2.9% in January, which was 0.5 points higher than December's rate of 2.4%.

Overall, each of Tennessee’s 95 counties experienced an increase in unemployment during January, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Eighty counties reported rates less than 5%, while the remaining 15 counties had rates of 5% or greater, but less than 10%.

Williamson and Moore counties had the state’s lowest unemployment for the month. Both counties recorded rates of 2.5% in January. That accounted for a 0.3 of a percentage point increase for both counties when compared to their rates in December.

At 9.9%, Perry County had the highest unemployment rate in the state. The county’s January number more than doubled its December rate of 4.5%. Cocke County had Tennessee's second-highest rate for the month. Its January jobless number increased from 4% to 7% between December and January but was 0.4 of a percentage point lower than its rate one year ago.

Statewide, January’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, the fourth consecutive month at that level. Across the nation, seasonally adjusted unemployment for January decreased slightly from 3.5% to 3.4%.

A complete analysis of the January 2023 county unemployment data is available here.

Tennessee has more than 80 American Job Centers across the state where job seekers can walk in and receive one-on-one help finding employment. From resume writing to skills training programs, career specialists can help individuals take advantage of all the services available to them. An interactive map can help job seekers locate a job center closest to them.

Job seekers can also find a variety of services online. From a virtual American Job Center to information on adult education programs, it is all available at TNWorkReady.com.

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