Tennessee’s Unemployment Rate decreased to 6.6% in December, 2014

Fourth Consecutive Decrease of State Unemployment Rate

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for December, 2014 was 6.6 percent, two-tenths of one percentage point lower than the November revised rate of 6.8 percent.

The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 5.6 percent, also falling two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month.

Economic Summary

• Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 percent to 6.6 percent while the national rate declined from 6.7 percent to 5.6 percent.
• Total nonfarm employment increased 12,500 jobs from November to December. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, manufacturing, and mining/logging/construction.
• Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 66,200 jobs. The largest increases occurred in professional/business services, trade/transportation/utilities, and mining/logging/construction.