Although unemployment dropped in 78 counties, the labor market in 14 counties worsened while the unemployment rate remained the same in three counties, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
In Perry County, where a special stimulus program has put 343 residents to work, the rate dropped from 22.1 percent in June to 19.3 percent in July. For the first time in months, Perry County no longer has the worst jobless rate in Tennessee.
The unemployment rate in the Nashville-Murfreesboro metro area dropped from 10 percent to 9.6 percent.
The state jobless rate in July was 10.7 percent, a slight drop from June’s 10.8 percent. Officials attributed the drop to more Tennesseans being discouraged and giving up their job hunt, which would exclude them from the jobless rate.
Real Estate Outlook: Encouraging NumbersTennessee’s jobless rate is worse than it looks
