TENNESSEE - Unemployment in the United States has stayed relatively steady over the past year, with only small ups and downs and a slight overall rise. A recent WalletHub study suggests the job market remains healthy, pointing to a 12.4% drop in new unemployment claims during the week of November 24, 2025. Nationwide, about 7.6 million Americans are unemployed.

Tennessee finds itself in the upper half of the rankings, coming in at #31 out of 51 (the 50 states plus District of Columbia). When looking strictly at states, Tennessee does even better, ranking #22 for best places to find a job. The Volunteer State also shines in the “hardest working” category, landing at #13.

WalletHub’s study highlighted Tennessee’s strong record on women’s equality, ranking the state #20 overall. That recognition ties back to a pivotal moment in history. In 1920, Tennessee became the final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, securing women’s right to vote. The debate was famously called the “War of the Roses,” with supporters wearing yellow roses and opponents red. The tie-breaking vote came from young legislator Harry T. Burn, who switched sides after receiving a letter from his mother urging him to “be a good boy” and support suffrage. His single vote made Tennessee “The Perfect 36.”

Today, Tennessee continues to show mixed results for women. In WalletHub’s “Best States for Working Moms,” Tennessee ranked #24 out of 51. Four Tennessee cities made the list of 182 best places for women to thrive: Nashville at #89, Chattanooga at #133, Memphis at #141, and Knoxville at #150.

Families, too, were part of WalletHub’s analysis. The study compared more than 180 cities across 45 metrics, from housing costs to schools and recreation. Tennessee’s cities landed in the middle to lower range: Nashville ranked #104, Knoxville #114, Chattanooga #125, and Memphis came in last at #182.

Nationally, the top five places to raise a family in 2025 were Fremont, California; Overland Park, Kansas; Plano, Texas; Irvine, California; and South Burlington, Vermont.

For Tennessee, the rankings paint a picture of resilience and opportunity, balanced with challenges that remain. The Volunteer State continues to stand out in hard work and historical leadership, even as families and women weigh the realities of modern life.