Published: May 24, 2020


NEWLY RELEASED DATA FROM THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REVEALED THE STATE’S HIGHEST-EVER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMID THE COVID-19 HEALTH EMERGENCY. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, THE PRELIMINARY SEASONALLY ADJUSTED STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR APRIL 2020 IS 14.7%, WHICH IS AN UNPRECEDENTED SPIKE OF 11.4 PERCENTAGE POINTS WHEN COMPARED TO MARCH’S REVISED RATE OF 3.3%. TOTAL NON FARM EMPLOYMENT IN TENNESSEE DECREASED BY 376,900 JOBS BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL AND THE LARGEST DECREASES OCCURRED IN LEISURE / HOSPITALITY, MANUFACTURING AND PROFESSIONAL / BUSINESS SERVICES SECTORS. DURING THE WEEK ENDING MAY 16TH, THE STATE PAID MORE THAN 319 THOUSAND CLAIMANTS NEARLY $359 MILLION IN UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.