Tennessee Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for Tennessee fell 0.4 percentage points in December 2011 to 8.7%. The state unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in Tennessee peaked in June 2009 at 10.8% and is now 2.1 percentage points lower. You can also see Tennessee unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Tennessee	8.7%	-0.4	-0.7

Note: All comparisons are made with December data as January state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Tennessee, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

Tennessee Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Tennessee peaked in June 2009 at 330,928. There are now 61,617 fewer people unemployed in the state. Tennessee job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Tennessee	269,311	-13,272	-17,625

Number of Unemployed Persons

Tennessee Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	8.7%	269,311
November 2011	8.7%	9.1%	282,583
October 2011	8.9%	9.5%	296,900
September 2011	9.0%	9.8%	306,516
August 2011	9.1%	9.7%	303,528
July 2011	9.1%	9.8%	305,764
June 2011	9.1%	9.8%	308,959
May 2011	9.0%	9.7%	304,406
April 2011	9.0%	9.6%	298,852
March 2011	8.9%	9.5%	293,322
February 2011	9.0%	9.5%	294,701
January 2011	9.1%	9.4%	290,111