Chattanooga, TN – Unemployment rates dropped in 23 Tennessee counties in December 2024, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) announced today. Compared to November, December saw a decrease in unemployment rates in these counties, with 39 counties maintaining the same rate and 33 counties experiencing an increase.
The state overall had an unemployment rate of 3.6% in December, which was slightly higher than the 3.5% recorded in November but still below the national rate of 4.1%. While Tennessee’s unemployment rate showed a slight increase, it remained at historically low levels.
Moore County reported the lowest unemployment rate for December at 2.5%, down one-tenth of a percentage point from November. Williamson County followed with the second-lowest rate at 2.6%, unchanged from the previous month. Sevier County, however, saw a slight increase, rising by one-tenth of a percentage point to 2.7%.
At the other end of the spectrum, Unicoi County had the highest unemployment rate for the month at 5.9%, which remained unchanged from November. Bledsoe, McNairy, Houston, and Lake counties followed with rates of 5.2%.
TDLWD highlighted that all but five Tennessee counties recorded unemployment rates of less than 5%. The counties with rates above 5% but below 10% included the five mentioned, with Unicoi County having the highest at 5.9%.
In 2024, Tennessee experienced all-time low unemployment rates, including a record-low rate of 3% in May, June, and July. These figures reflect the state’s strong labor market and the ongoing recovery efforts as the state continues to grow its economy.