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.