December Unemployment Below 5% in 91 Tennessee Counties

Nearly every Tennessee county reported unemployment below 5% in December, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

All but four of the state’s 95 counties posted unemployment rates under 5% for the month. Ninety-one counties reported rates below that threshold, while four counties recorded rates of 5% or higher. The highest county rate in the state was 5.7%.

From November to December, unemployment declined in 87 counties, increased in six, and remained unchanged in two.

Williamson and Cheatham counties recorded the lowest unemployment rates at 2.6%. Williamson’s rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point from November, while Cheatham’s fell by four-tenths.

Maury County had the highest unemployment rate in the state in December at 5.7%. Lewis County followed at 5.6%, and Perry County reported 5.3%.

Lawrence County tied with Lauderdale and Greene counties for the eighth-highest unemployment rate in Tennessee at 4.6%.

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate for December was 3.6%. County rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Tennessee employers seeking workforce development resources can access TNWorks, which offers free, data-driven services to help train and upskill employees.