Unemployment Declines in Most Tennessee Counties; Lawrence County at 3.9%

Unemployment rates declined in a majority of Tennessee counties in May, according to new data released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The department reported that 69 of Tennessee’s 95 counties saw their unemployment rates decrease from April to May. Rates remained unchanged in 18 counties and increased in eight. Overall, 94 counties posted unemployment rates below 5 percent during the month.

Williamson County recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rate in May at 2.4%, followed by Cheatham, Dickson, and Knox counties at 2.5%. Perry County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 5.3%, the only county above 5%.

Locally, Lawrence County posted an unemployment rate of 3.9%, Giles County 4.1%, Wayne County 3.5%, Lewis County 4.5%, Maury County 4.5%, and Hardin County 3.4%.

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate remained at 3.6% for the fourth consecutive month. Unlike the statewide figure, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.