Jobless rate remains state's 2nd highest
Scott County’s unemployment rate increased eight-tenths of a percentage point to 18.8% in March, the State Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development announced last week.
The local jobless rate remained the second-highest in the state, keeping pace with increased rates of unemployment in Lauderdale and Monroe counties. Perry County had the state’s highest unemployment rate, at 25.4%.
Scott County’s unemployment rate is based on a local labor force of 8,390 workers, with 6,810 being employed and 1,570 without work in March.
Among neighboring counties, Anderson County’s jobless rate increased seven-tenths of a point to 9.4%, Campbell County’s increased three-tenths of a point to 12.5%, and Morgan County’s increased four-tenths of a point to 11.2%.
Fentress County’s unemployment rate decreased for a second consecutive month, down three-tenths of a point to 13.7%. Pickett County also posted a decreased jobless rate, down from 17.3% to 16.9%.
Across the state, the unemployment rate increased in 74 counties and decreased in 19 counties. Lincoln County had the state’s lowest jobless rate, at 6.9%, followed by Williamson (7.2%), Knox (7.3%), Davidson and Moore (7.9%), Hamilton and Sullivan (8.0%), Washington (8.1%), Montgomery (8.2%) and Roane (8.4%). Behind Perry and Scott counties, Lauderdale County had the highest unemployment rate, at 18.2%, followed by Monroe (17.5%), Marshall and Pickett (16.9%), Lewis (16.7%), Jackson (15.8%) and Henderson and Maury (15.6%).
In major metropolitan areas, Knox County posted the state’s lowest unemployment rate, at 7.3%, followed by Davidson County at 7.9%, Hamilton County at 8.0% and Shelby County at 8.9%.