Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for February was 6.6 percent, one-tenths of one percentage point lower than the January revised rate of 6.7 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for February was 5.5 percent, down two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month.Economic Summary
Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate increased from 6.5 percent to 6.6 percent while the national rate decreased from 6.7 percent to 5.5 percent.
Total nonfarm employment decreased 800 jobs from January to February. The largest decreases occurred in administrative/support/waste services, accommodation/food services, and local government.
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 60,400 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, and manufacturing.