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Seasonally Adjusted Rate Up 0.7 Percentage Point from November

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for December was 10.9 percent, up 0.7 percentage point from the November rate of 10.2 percent.

“This month we’ve seen a cumulative effect of statistical information which resulted in our high rate of unemployment,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “These figures are consistent with a weak holiday period that outweighed seasonal adjustments to the unemployment rate this time of year.”

The December rate a year ago was 7.6 percent. The national unemployment rate for December 2009 was 10.0 percent, equal to the November rate of 10.0 percent.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
November 2009 to December 2009

According to the Business Survey, 1,700 job gains occurred in retail trade; 1,200 in health care and social assistance; and 1,000 in professional, scientific and technical services. Major employment decreases occurred in manufacturing, down by 4,300; mining and construction declined by 3,900; and administrative, support and waste services declined by 2,900 jobs.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
December 2008 to December 2009

Year-over-year increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 8,700; federal government increased 1,500; and local government educational services gained 1,400. Manufacturing decreased by 27,600 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities lost 26,800; and mining and construction declined by 24,700.

Seasonally Adjusted Rate Down 0.2 Percentage Point from October

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for November was 10.3 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the October rate of 10.5 percent.

“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,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley.

The November rate a year ago was 7.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for November 2009 was 10.0 percent, down from the October rate of 10.2 percent.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
October 2009 to November 2009

According to the Business Survey, 7,300 job gains occurred in retail trade; 1,800 in professional and business services; and 1,300 in health care and social assistance. Major employment decreases occurred in durable goods manufacturing, down by 1,800; arts, entertainment and recreation declined by 1,300; and mining and construction declined by 1,000 jobs.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
November 2008 to November 2009

Year-over-year increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 7,500; federal government increased 1,500; and local government educational services gained 1,100. Manufacturing decreased by 29,800 jobs; mining and construction lost 28,200; and trade, transportation and utilities declined by 23,300.

Approximately 25,000 Tennesseans Eligible for Additional Benefits

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is on schedule to complete the online applications for the latest federal extension of unemployment benefits. The application will be available on the Tennessee Department of Labor’s Internet site on December 11, and the first benefit payments are expected to be mailed December 18, 2009.

“This project has been given the highest priority, and the department’s Information Technology division has worked nights, weekends and holidays to do the extensive programming required of our systems to extend these benefits,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Those who have already exhausted their benefits should look for instructions in the mail this week with the status of their claim.”

Read more via Tennessee Department of Labor Announces Release of Online Application for Extension of Unemployment Benefits | TN.gov Newsroom.

Rates Increase in 47 Counties, Decrease in 42, Remain the Same in Six

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2009 was released last week at 10.8 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the July rate of 10.7 percent. The United States’ unemployment rate for the month of August was 9.7 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for August 2009, released today, show that the rate increased in 47 counties, decreased in 42 counties and remained the same in six counties.

Lincoln County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in July. Lauderdale County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 19.7 percent, up from 19.5 in July, followed by Scott County at 19.2 percent, down from 19.5 percent in July.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.7 percent, up 0.5 percentage point from the July rate. Hamilton County was at 9.4 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the July rate. Davidson County was 9.6 percent, up 0.4 from the previous month, and Shelby County was 10.6 percent, up 0.3 from the July rate.

Data is from the following links –  August 2008, Sept 2008, Oct 2008, Nov 2008, Dec 2008, Jan 2009, Feb 2009, Mar 2009, April 2009, May, 2009, June 2009, July 2008, August 2009

Rates Decrease in 78 Counties, Increase in 14, Remain the Same in Three

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2009 was released last week at 10.7 percent, 0.1 percentage point lower than the June rate of 10.8 percent. The United States’ unemployment rate for the month of July was 9.4 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for July 2009, released today, show that the rate increased in 14 counties, decreased in 78 counties and remained the same in three counties.

Lincoln County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 6.9 percent, down from 7.0 percent in June. Scott County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 19.6 percent, up from 19.5 in June, followed by Lauderdale County at 19.5 percent, down from 19.7 percent in June.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.3 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the June rate. Hamilton County was at 9.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the June rate. Davidson County was 9.2 percent, down 0.1 from the previous month, and Shelby County was 10.4 percent, unchanged from the June rate.

Data is from the following links – , July 2008, August 2008, Sept 2008, Oct 2008, Nov 2008, Dec 2008, Jan 2009, Feb 2009, Mar 2009, April 2009, May, 2009, June 2009, July 2008

Rate UP 0.3 PERCENTAGE point from MARCH

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for April was 9.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the revised March rate of 9.6 percent. The April rate a year ago was 6.0 percent. The national unemployment rate for April 2009 was 8.9 percent, up from the March rate of 8.5 percent.

“The unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in 25 years,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Tennessee still has more manufacturing than the national average as well as wholesale and retail distribution. This environment, along with the reduction in goods consumption, has had a big impact on Tennessee’s economy.”

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
March 2009 to April 2009

According to the Business Survey, 6,300

job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality; 1,100 in nondurable goods manufacturing; and 1,100 in retail trade. Major employment decreases occurred in professional and business services, down by 1,800; educational and health services declined by 1,500 jobs; and wholesale trade decreased by 1,500.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
April 2008 to April 2009

Year-over-year increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 9,400; local government increased 1,700; and food services and drinking places gained 1,300;
manufacturing was down 40,500; trade transportation and utilities lost 28,900; and mining and construction decreased by 25,400.

Job Fairs listed on Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development

APRIL 29, 2009
NATIONAL JOB FAIR
Nashville

APRIL 24, 2009
"A CAREER IN FULL BLOOM" SPRING CAREER FAIR
Vendor List
Clarksville

APRIL 22, 2009
NATIONAL JOB FAIR
Memphis

Possible new jobs in Morristown, Tennessee as NCR moves production

VIROQUA, Wis. — A company that manufactures supplies for ATMs and retail checkout machines said Thursday it will close a plant in Wisconsin as it moves production to Morristown, Tenn.  Read the rest of the story on NCR

WJHL TV article below brings bad job news to the Tri-Cities area.  Use the following link to view a video and read comments submitted by readers. Mazer Corporation Closes Unexpectedly

A printing company in Johnson City closed its doors Tuesday, December 30, leaving 130 people without jobs.

Ken Fultz, vice president of all printing services told News Channel 11 that employees were told Wednesday the plant was closing effective immediately.  He says he’s not sure if they will be paid for Monday and Tuesday at this time, but the employees 401K plans are safe.

Fultz says the company did not tell employees ahead of time that it might have to close its doors…because Mazer thought it would be able to negotiate a deal with its lending insitution.  Instead, it was not able to come up with the necessary funds to stay in business.  Now, ex-employees, like John Boyd who has worked at Mazer for nearly thirty years, are packing up.  “There’s a feeling of betrayal.  This was a very dedicated and loyal workforce.  You couldn’t have asked for a better workforce,“ said Boyd. 

Employees say the company changed its health insurance policy earlier this year to read that within 24 hours of termination an employee would lose insurance.  That means employees who lost their jobs are now without health insurance and pay.  “I have bills due that I was countin’ on my paycheck Friday for, and I don’t know how I’m gonna pay them now,“ said employee James C. White.

Fultz said the company was in a cash crunch, mainly due to cuts in education.  The majority of Mazer’s business is from printing educational materials.