Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced Thursday the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent, one-tenth percentage point increase from the November revised rate of 5.5 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 5.0 percent, unchanged from the prior month.
Economic Summary
· Over the past year, Tennessee's unemployment rate decreased from 6.6 percent to 5.6 percent while the national rate declined from 5.6 percent to 5.0 percent.
· Total nonfarm employment increased 19,400 jobs from November to December.
The largest increases occurred in administrative/support/waste services, trade/transportation/utilities, & education/health services.
· Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 64,900 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, & leisure/hospitality.