March 2008 Unemployment Figures - County

NASHVILLE –Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2008 was released last week at 5.6 percent, 0.3 percent higher than the February rate of 5.3 percent.  The United States unemployment rate for the month of March was 5.1 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for March 2008, released today, show that 50 counties increased.  The rate decreased in 27 counties and remained the same in 18 counties.  County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal expansions and layoffs that occur during the year.  The state and U.S. unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to eliminate normal seasonal fluctuations and to indicate a more accurate measurement of actual economic change.

Williamson County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 3.9 percent, the same as the February rate.  Perry County had the state’s highest at 12.1 percent, up from 11.6 in February, followed by Clay County at 11.1 percent, up from 10.3 percent in February.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 4.3 percent, the same as the February rate.  Davidson County was 4.7 percent, up from 4.5 in February.  Hamilton County was at 4.7 percent up 0.1 percent from February, and Shelby County was 6.2 percent, up from the February rate of 5.9.