September/October 2013 County Unemployment Rates

NASHVILLE – County unemployment rates for October 2013, released today, show the rate increased in 64 counties, decreased in 18, and remained the same in 13 counties. Specific county information for both September and October is available on the Internet; enter http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/labor_figures/LaborSEPTOCT2013.pdf.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides unemployment data to states each month including household and business surveys that contribute toward the monthly calculation. The BLS delayed release of state rate information due to the recent federal shutdown, but normal monthly rate announcements will resume in December. The revised schedule for state and county unemployment rate releases can be found at http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/news/tfs.shtml.

Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 6.7 percent, unchanged from September. Knox County’s October rate was also 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent the previous month. Hamilton County was unchanged at 8.0 percent. Shelby County was 10.1 percent, up from 9.9 percent in September.

Tennessee’s unemployment rate for both September and October is 8.4 percent, which is one tenth of one percentage point lower than the August revised rate. The national unemployment rate for October 2013 was 7.3 percent, up one tenth of one percentage point from September.
 

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