Cannon County's jobless rate drops

NASHVILLE - Unemployment rates for 94 of Tennessee's 95 counties dropped in April 2019 according to data released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

Cannon County's rate fell .6 percent in April to 2.4 percent.

Data provided by the TDLWD showed Cannon County had an estimated labor force of 6,560 in April. Of those, 6,410 were shown as being employed. That left only 160 out of the workforce.

The unemployment rate in Maury County remained unchanged for the month, making it the only county in the state whose rate did not fall in April.

Ninety-four counties have rates lower than 5 percent and only one county's rate is higher than 5 percent.

Unemployment in Williamson County dipped below 2 percent in April. The county's current rate of 1.9 percent marks a 0.5 of a percentage point drop from the previous month.

Davidson County's unemployment rate hit a record low during April; it dropped by 0.5 of a percentage point and now sits at 2 percent. Rutherford County followed at 2.1 percent, while Cheatham, Wilson, Moore and Sumner counties each recorded a rate of 2.2 percent in April.

Along with Davidson County, Wilson, Sumner, Smith, and Hickman counties marked record low unemployment. Rutherford County tied its all-time low rate.

"County unemployment rates continue to be extraordinarily positive," said TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. "Across our state we are now seeing unemployment rates at or below 5 percent become the norm."

Clay County has the state's highest rate in April at 5.6 percent, which is a 0.4 of a percentage point decrease from the previous month. Hancock and Rhea counties have the next highest rates at 4.9 percent. Those rates represent a 0.9 of a percentage point drop for Hancock County and the rate is 0.8 of a percentage point lower in Rhea County when compared to the previous month.

Statewide, unemployment remains at Tennessee's historic low of 3.2 percent. It is the third consecutive month the rate has been at the record level.

County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, while the state and national rates use the seasonal adjustment to eliminate outside influences on the statistics.