July Unemployment Rate 8.5 Percent

TENNESSEE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNCHANGED FROM PREVIOUS MONTH

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for July is 8.5 percent, which is unchanged from the June revised rate. The national unemployment rate for July 2013 was 7.4 percent, down two tenths of one percentage point from the previous month.
Economic Summary:

• Tennessee's July unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.5 percent.
• Over the past year, Tennessee's unemployment rate increased from 8.2 percent to 8.5 percent.
• Total nonfarm employment decreased 2,500 from June to July. The largest decreases occurred in administrative/support/waste services, state government, and accommodation/food services.
• Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 32,300 jobs. The largest increases were in leisure/hospitality, professional/business services, and retail trade.

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