Knox County jobless rate falls to 5.9 percent

1/30/2012

Knox County's unemployment rate fell to 5.9 percent in December, down from 6.3 percent in November, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development stated.

Knox County had the lowest metropolitan jobless rate in the state. Rates in other major metro markets were also down. Davidson County's December unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, down from 7.3 percent the previous month. Hamilton County was 7.2 percent, down from 7.4 percent, and Shelby County was 8.8 percent, down from 9.3 percent in November.

Unemployment rates dropped in 56 counties and increased in 27 counties and were unchanged in 12 counties, the state reported.

Tennessee's unemployment rate for December fell to 8.7 percent, down from the November revised rate of 9.1. The national unemployment rate for December 2011 was 8.5 percent, down from 8.7 percent in November.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel