NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's unemployment rate stayed below the national rate in October 2024. A report said while the national unemployment rate increased to around 4.1%, Tennessee's decreased to around 3.3% — continuing a longstanding trend that keeps the state's unemployment rate below the national one.
The report was made by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It also noted a similar trend in the state's average pay rates. It uses the hours and earnings of manufacturing workers as a metric for the money made by people in the state.
It found that in October 2024, manufacturing workers on average made around $973 per week. Nationally, workers in the same field made around $1,149 per week. The gap between average national earnings and average state earnings has remained mostly consistent for several months, according to the department's reports.
The latest report also showed that while workers made around $8 less per week nationally, Tennesee workers made around $17 less per week compared to the previous month.
The department said the state added around 1,299 people to its civilian workforce compared to last month, totaling around 3.4 million workers. The report said Tennessee's health care and social assistance sector added around 2,200 jobs compared to the previous month. It also said the manufacturing sector added 1,500 jobs for durable goods.
However, 2,100 jobs were lost for administrative, support and waste services workers. The accommodation and food services industry also lost around 1,200 workers in Tennessee.
