March Unemployment Rate 7.9 Percent

TENNESSEE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASES FROM 7.8 PECENT IN FEBRUARY

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Interim Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for March was 7.9 percent, which increased one tenth of one percentage point from the February revised rate of 7.8 percent. The national unemployment rate for March 2013 was 7.6 percent, decreasing by one tenth of one percentage point from the previous month.

Economic Summary:
•    Tennessee’s March unemployment rate of 7.9 percent is the lowest March rate since 2008.
•    Tennessee’s state rate has increased 0.1 percentage point for three consecutive months.
•    Total nonfarm employment decreased 6,600 jobs from February to March (seasonally adjusted). Decreases occurred in professional/business services and leisure/hospitality.
Total nonfarm employment increased 45,200 jobs from March 2012 to March 2013 (seasonally adjusted). Increases occurred in professional/business services and trade/transportation/utilities.

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