Department of Numbers

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kingsport rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Tennessee rate. The unemployment rate in Kingsport peaked in April 2020 at 13.9% and is now 10.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Kingsport unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Tennessee 3.3% 0.0 +0.1
Kingsport 3.4% +0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Kingsport, Tennessee, National

Kingsport, Tennessee monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kingsport, Tennessee Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kingsport peaked in April 2020 at 18,559. There are now 13,960 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,262 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 337. Kingsport employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kingsport, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Kingsport 4,599 +37 -28

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kingsport, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Tennessee
Unemployment Rate
Kingsport
Unemployment Rate
Kingsport
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.4% 4,599
April
2023
3.4% 3.3% 3.3% 4,562
March
2023
3.5% 3.4% 3.4% 4,651
February
2023
3.6% 3.5% 3.5% 4,744
January
2023
3.4% 3.5% 3.5% 4,759
December
2022
3.5% 3.5% 3.6% 4,820
November
2022
3.6% 3.5% 3.6% 4,828
October
2022
3.7% 3.5% 3.6% 4,838
September
2022
3.5% 3.4% 3.6% 4,829
August
2022
3.7% 3.3% 3.6% 4,812
July
2022
3.5% 3.3% 3.5% 4,781

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.