The Number of Unemployed Persons is the Lowest since February 2008
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for September was 5.7 percent, unchanged from the August revised rate.
The U.S. preliminary rate for September was 5.1 percent, also unchanged from the prior month.
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Economic Summary
- Tennessee’s unemployment rate for September remained at 5.7 percent (the fourth consecutive month).
- Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.6 percent to 5.7 percent while the national rate declined from 5.9 percent to 5.1 percent.
- The number of unemployed persons is the lowest since February 2008.
- Total nonfarm employment increased 1,900 jobs from August to September. The largest increases occurred in state government, educational services, and professional/business services.
- Over the year, nonfarm employment increased 46,700 jobs. The largest increases occurred in trade/transportation/utilities, leisure/hospitality, and professional/business services.
| Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment – Business Survey | |||||
| (Numbers in thousands) | Sept. 2014 | Revised Aug. 2015 | Preliminary Sept. 2015 |
Change from Sept. 2014 to Sept. 2015 | Change from Aug. 2015 to Sept. 2015 |
| Total Nonfarm | 2,830.3 | 2,875.1 | 2,877.0 | 46.7 | 1.9 |
| Mining/logging/ construction |
110.7 | 113.0 | 113.1 | 2.4 | 0.1 |
| Manufacturing | 326.3 | 331.0 | 330.9 | 4.6 | -0.1 |
| Trade/transportation/ utilities |
595.3 | 613.2 | 611.7 | 16.4 | -1.5 |
| Information | 43.9 | 43.0 | 43.0 | -0.9 | 0.0 |
| Financial activities | 142.5 | 145.2 | 144.8 | 2.3 | -0.4 |
| Professional/business services | 376.7 | 382.4 | 383.9 | 7.2 | 1.5 |
| Education Services | 54.3 | 52.2 | 53.8 | -0.5 | 1.6 |
| Heath care/social assistance | 350.1 | 355.3 | 355.3 | 5.2 | 0.0 |
| Leisure/hospitality | 299.9 | 310.7 | 309.6 | 9.7 | -1.1 |
| Government | 424.7 | 423.7 | 426.8 | 2.1 | 3.1 |