Tennessee jobless rate drops slightly

The Messenger 11.19.07

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee’s unemployment rate for October was 4.6 percent, down 0.1 percent from September, the state Department of Labor and Work Force Development announced.
The national unemployment rate for October is 4.7 percent, unchanged from September.
Commissioner James Neeley said the decrease continues a trend of jobs increasing in Tennessee over the past year.
“We have seen Tennessee’s jobless rate decline over the past year from 5.1 percent in October 2006,” Neeley said. “It’s encouraging to see Tennessee’s construction sector, primarily nonresidential, continuing to operate in positive numbers increasing by 7,400 hundred jobs from a year ago.”
September to October gains were seasonal, with local government increasing by 1,400 jobs. Professional, scientific and technical services employment increased by 1,000 and retail trade increased 900.
Leisure and hospitality saw month-to-month declines, down by 5,900 jobs, but the sector continues to lead the areas doing well with gains of 8,100 jobs for the year.
There were slight decreases in durable goods manufacturing in October, down 900.
Educational and health services jobs increased by 6,700 jobs for the year.
Major employment declines over the year were in manufacturing, decreasing by 7,400. Clothing and accessories stores lost 1,800 jobs and professional and business services employment declined by 1,600.
———
On the Net:
Department of Labor and Workforce Development: http://www.tennessee.gov/labor-wfd/

Print