Thursday, December 17, 2009

Unemployment rate improves in Tennessee

A decrease in the November unemployment rate to 10.3 percent points to modest employment growth, state labor officials said today.
The state jobless rate dropped from 10.5 percent in October. “As the year ends, we’re seeing evidence the economy is bottoming out and beginning to show some modest employment growth, which is encouraging news,” said Labor Department Commissioner James Neeley.

Unemployment in Tennessee a year ago stood at 7.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for November was 10 percent, down from 10.2 percent.

There were 7,300 jobs added in November in retail trade, 1,800 in professional and business services and 1,300 in health care and social assistance. Job losses continued in manufacturing, construction and arts, entertainment and recreation since October.

Year-over-year, jobs have been added in health care and social assistance, the federal government and among the ranks of teachers. Jobs lost since 2008 have occurred in manufacturing, mining and construction, and in trade, transportation and utilities.

Contact Bonna Johnson at 615-726-5990 or bjohnson@tennessean.com.



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