Tennessee Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development James Neeley announced today Tennessee’s unemployment rate for July was 10.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the June rate of 10.8 percent. The July rate a year ago was 6.6 percent. The national unemployment rate for July 2009 was 9.4 percent, down from the June rate of 9.5 percent.

 

“The unemployment rate reduction does not reflect a meaningful shift in unemployment,” reported Labor Commissioner James Neeley. “The lower rate is mostly a result of discouraged workers dropping out of the workforce.”

 

From June 2009 to July 2009, the number included in the civilian labor force fell by 14,700 (-0.5%); the number of those employed dropped by 11,600 (-0.4%); and the number of those who are unemployed decreased by 3,100 (-0.9%).

 

 

According to the Business Survey, 5,000 job gains occurred in durable goods manufacturing; 1,300 in state government educational services; and 900 in wholesale trade. Major employment decreases occurred in local government educational services, down by 2,400; educational and health services declined by 2,200 jobs; and administrative, support and waste services decreased by 1,500.

 

 

Year-over-year increases occurred in local government, up by *12,200; health care and social assistance increased 10,200; and arts, entertainment and recreation gained 2,000; manufacturing was down 38,500; trade transportation and utilities lost 30,000; and mining and construction decreased by 27,500.

 

*Local government increases were primarily caused by the inclusion of approximately 10,300 Summer Youth Program workers (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).