Wilson among fewest job seekers

Wilson County ranked tied for fourth with two other counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state in September, according to a report released Thursday from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Wilson tied with Blount and Rutherford counties, each with 6.2 percent jobless rate.

The three counties were behind Williamson and Lincoln counties, each with 5.2 percent, and Knox County with 5.9 percent among the lowest unemployment rates in the state in September.

Wilson County also showed a decrease in the number of workers filing for unemployment compensation compared to August’s 6.9 percent rate.

The rate equals 3,780 unemployed workers filing for compensation compared to a 61,000-person labor force. Numbers do not reflect workers who have exhausted unemployment benefits or didn’t apply to receive benefits.

Neighboring Trousdale County reported a 1-percent drop – from 8.1 percent in August to 7.1 percent in September, in those seeking jobs. It equals 260 people unemployed compared to a 3,690 workforce.

Lebanon reported a significant decrease in jobless rate compared to August figures. The city’s rate for September was 6.9 percent, which fell from 8 percent in August. It equals 920 unemployed workers compared to a 15,120-person workforce.

The Nashville-Murfreesboro metropolitan area, which includes Wilson, Trousdale and 11 other counties, showed a 6.4 percent jobless rate for September, down from 7.2 percent in August. It equates to 53,280 unemployed workers compared to a 828,970-person labor force.

Statewide, the unemployment rate for September decreased to 8.3 percent, down from 8.5 percent in August. It equals 258,200 job seekers compared to a 3.1 million workforce. September rates decreased in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties except one.

The national unemployment rate for September was 7.8 percent, down from 8.1 percent in August. It equals about 11.7 million unemployed workers compared to a nearly 155.1 million workforce.

Director of content Jared Felkins can be reached at 615-444-3952, ext. 13 or jfelkins@lebanondemocrat.com.