Department of Numbers

Chattanooga, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chattanooga fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Tennessee rate. The unemployment rate in Chattanooga peaked in April 2020 at 13.8% and is now 10.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in March 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Chattanooga unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Tennessee 3.5% +0.2 0.0
Chattanooga 3.4% 0.0 +0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Chattanooga, Tennessee, National

Chattanooga, Tennessee monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chattanooga, Tennessee Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chattanooga peaked in April 2020 at 36,466. There are now 27,003 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,528 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 935. Chattanooga employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Chattanooga 9,463 +36 +606

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chattanooga, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee
Unemployment Rate
Chattanooga
Unemployment Rate
Chattanooga
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.5% 3.4% 9,463
October
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.4% 9,427
September
2023
3.8% 3.2% 3.3% 9,213
August
2023
3.8% 3.1% 3.3% 9,075
July
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.2% 9,005
June
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.2% 8,923
May
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.2% 8,754
April
2023
3.4% 3.3% 3.1% 8,528
March
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.1% 8,669
February
2023
3.6% 3.5% 3.2% 8,773
January
2023
3.4% 3.5% 3.2% 8,771

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.