County Unemployment Rate Drops Again in May; Lowest Since 1973

New unemployment figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Thursday showed that Lawrence County's unemployment rate decreased again in May from 4.1% to 3.3%, the lowest mark since December 1973.

In January 2010 at the height of the national recession, the unemployment rate in Lawrence County peaked at 17.2% when 2,880 Lawrence Countians found themselves without a job. That means that since that time period, Lawrence County's unemployment rate has decreased almost 81%, one of the largest decreases in the State.

According to the newly released report, in May of this year the number of Lawrence Countians unemployed was 590, the fewest in any month since May 1974. More importantly, 17,050 Lawrence Countians were employed in May, a number which has not been matched consistently in Lawrence County since the early 2000's.

County leaders say they are pleased with the continued economic progress and remain committed to creating more good paying jobs for citizens here in Lawrence County.

Last month, the Chamber of Commerce announced the "Ditch the Drive" campaign which is an effort to recruit citizens to find employment in Lawrence County rather than driving out of county each day. According to the Chamber, there are jobs available in Lawrence County and working local can save money, save time, and in many cases, give yourself a raise. Anyone interested in inquiring about local job openings are encouraged to call the Chamber or visit Jobs4TN.gov.