Tennessee reported the biggest monthly increase in its labor force in nearly five years during March as job seekers returned to the market.
The Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development reported today that the state's jobless rate fell from 10.7 percent in February to 10.6 percent in January. A year ago, 10.1 percent of Tennessee's workforce was out of work.
Tennessee's jobless rate in March remained above the comparable 9.7 percent U.S. unemployment rate.
"Modest employment growth occurred again in March," Tennessee Labor Commissioner James Neeley said. "We'll need sustained growth to recover from the unprecedented losses during this recession."
According to the monthly Household Survey, the 9,700 additional jobs in March was the largest increase since October 2005.