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Seasonally Adjusted Rate Down 0.3 Percentage Point from May

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for June was 10.1 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the May rate of 10.4 percent. The June 2009 rate was 10.9 percent. The national unemployment rate for June 2010 was 9.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from the May rate of 9.7 percent.

“The unemployment rate in Tennessee fell to 10.1 percent in June as a result of moderate growth in employment,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “Modest gains in areas like construction and leisure/hospitality were offset by job losses in education and census workers.”

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
May 2010 to June 2010

According to the Business Survey, leisure/hospitality increased by 5,000; mining/construction added 2,500 jobs, and healthcare/social assistance increased by 2,300. Major employment decreases occurred in government (primarily educational services), down by 34,700; administrative/support/waste services declined by 6,100; and private educational services declined by 3,000 jobs.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
June 2009 to June 2010

Year-over-year increases occurred in administrative/support/waste services, up by 10,000; federal government gained 6,700; and retail trade was up by 5,100. Year-over-year decreases occurred in transportation/warehousing, down by 6,200; mining/construction lost 5,100; and accommodation/food services decreased by 5,000.

Seasonally Adjusted Rate Down 0.1 Percentage Point from March

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for April was 10.5 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the March rate of 10.6 percent. The April rate last year was 10.5 percent. The national unemployment rate for April 2010 was 9.9 percent, up from the March rate of 9.7 percent.

“The unemployment rate fell a tenth of a percentage point from last month and is the same as a year ago,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “The good news in this monthly report is that employment growth was very strong. The unemployment rate stayed about the same because of a substantial increase in the number of people reentering the labor force.”

According to the monthly Household Survey, the Tennessee labor force (3,028,500) is the highest since May 2009. The number of unemployed persons (318,300) is the lowest since March 2009.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
March 2010 to April 2010

According to the Business Survey, 9,000 job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality; 5,100 in administrative, support, and waste services; and 3,000 in trade, transportation and utilities. Major employment decreases occurred in health care and social assistance, down by 1,100; general merchandise stores declined by 800 jobs; and professional, scientific, and technical services decreased by 800.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
April 2009 to April 2010

Year-over-year increases occurred in administrative, support and waste services, up by 9,100; educational and health services gained 8,300; and retail trade was up by 5,900. 
Year-over-year decreases occurred in durable goods manufacturing, down by 10,800; mining and construction lost 8,700; and transportation and warehousing decreased by 8,300.

Seasonally Adjusted Rate Down 0.1 Percentage Point from February

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for March was 10.6 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the February rate of 10.7 percent. The March rate last year was 10.1 percent. The national unemployment rate for March 2010 was 9.7 percent, unchanged from the February rate of 9.7 percent.

“Modest employment growth occurred again in March,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “We’ll need sustained growth to recover from the unprecedented losses during this recession.”

According to the monthly Household Survey, this is the largest monthly increase in the labor force (+9,700) since October 2005.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
February 2010 to March 2010

According to the Business Survey, 6,600 job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality; 5,200 in mining and construction; 4,800 in trade, transportation and utilities; and 4,700 in administrative, support, and waste services. Major employment decreases occurred in financial activities, down by 1,000; information declined by 700 jobs; and professional, scientific, and technical services decreased by 400.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
March 2009 to March 2010

Year-over-year increases occurred in educational and health services, up by 12,300; administrative, support, and waste services gained 3,200; and retail trade was up by 1,200. Year-over-year decreases occurred in manufacturing, down by 17,700; trade, transportation, and utilities lost 15,200; and mining and construction decreased by 10,700.

Seasonally Adjusted Rate Unchanged from December 2009

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for January was 10.7 percent, unchanged from the revised December rate of 10.7 percent. The January rate a year ago was 9.1 percent. The national unemployment rate for January 2010 was 9.7 percent, down from the December rate of 10 percent.

“The state unemployment rate is holding steady for the month of January,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “While the unemployment rate continues to be high in Tennessee, we did see a slight increase in employment (+3,400), and two of the three largest gains in employment were in the manufacturing industry.”

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
December 2009 to January 2010

According to the Business Survey, 200 job gains occurred in plastic and rubber products manufacturing; 200 in fabricated metal products manufacturing; and 200 in federal government. Major employment decreases occurred in trade, transportation and utilities, down by 18,100; leisure and hospitality declined by 11,100 jobs; and professional and business services decreased by 9,900.

Major Changes in Estimated Nonagricultural Employment
January 2009 to January 2010

Year-over-year increases occurred in health care and social assistance, up by 6,800; state government gained 1,100; manufacturing was down 31,800; trade transportation and utilities lost 28,800; and mining and construction decreased by 16,100.