Cocke County jobless rate dips slightly

There was good news for Cocke County in the latest unemployment rate according to a report issued late last week by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

According to the state agency, Cocke County joined 78 other counties across Tennessee with a drop in joblessness in July 2024, with an unemployment rate of 4.4%, representing a slight dip from June’s 4.5%.

Ten other counties saw no change in the jobless rate from the previous month.

The highest rate in the state was in Weakley County, which saw a substantial jump from 4.5% in June to 6.2% in July.

Sevier County and Williamson County recorded July’s lowest jobless rates according to the TDLWD at 2.5% each, a drop from 2.3% in June.

Surrounding counties also saw positive movement in July’s jobless rates.

Greene County, though once again one of only 13 counties to report a jobless rate above 5%, saw its July 2024 jobless rate fall from 5.2% to 5.1%.

Both Hamblen and Jefferson counties each saw decreased jobless rates of 3.6% in July. Hamblen’s June unemployment rate was 3.9%, while Jefferson County’s June rate was 3.8%.

The TDLWD report indicates that statewide, seasonally adjusted unemployment in Tennessee remained at a record-setting rate of 3% for a third straight month. The national seasonally adjusted rate stands at 4.3%. Both state and national rates are adjusted for seasonal impact, while county rates are not.