Unemployment in Tennessee rose last month as an influx of workers into the labor market this fall more than offset the net gain of 14,800 jobs across the state, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said today.
Tennessee's seasonally adjusted jobless rate in September rose to 4.6 percent, up from 4.4 percent in August. Tennessee's unemployment rate was still below the U.S. rate of 5 percent last month. Nationwide, the unemployment rate rose last month by a tenth of a percent.
Total seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Tennessee increased by 14,800 jobs from August to September. The largest increases occurred in government, professional/business services and health care/social assistance.
Over the past year, nonfarm employment increased 71,300 jobs in Tennessee. Tennessee Labor Commissioner Burns Phillips said the largest increases occurred in healthcare/social assistance, professional/business services and trade/transportation/utilities.