From staff, AP reports
Another month, and another No. 2 unemployment ranking for Obion County.
The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development released its county-by-county jobless report Thursday afternoon and again Obion County is listed as having one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.
It has become a recurrent theme that first showed up after the shut down of the former Goodyear plant in Union City.
The plant’s closure has had a significant economic impact on the entire region and the monthly jobless report serves as a dismal reminder that the region is still suffering from virtually no significant job creation.
By the numbers, Obion County had a 14.8 percent jobless rate in June. That translates to 2,030 people out of work in June.
It marks the ninth straight month Obion County has been ranked as having one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Obion County’s June jobless rate increased 1.7 percent from May, according to the state.
Of the 10 counties in Tennessee with the highest jobless rate in June, five are located in West Tennessee — Obion, Lauderdale, Weakley, Dyer and Hardeman counties.
Across the border in Kentucky, Fulton County had the commonwealth’s highest June unemployment rate at 17 percent. That’s down 3 percent from the previous month, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.
Elsewhere across northwest Tennessee:
• Weakley County had a 13.2 percent June jobless rate (ranked fourth in the state), representing 2,080 people out of work during the month.
• Lake County had a 11.2 percent jobless rate, representing 310 people out of work.
• Dyer County had a 12.9 percent jobless rate (ranked seventh in the state), representing 2,230 people out of work.
• Gibson County had a 11.9 percent jobless rate, representing 2,590 people out of work.
From May to June, the unemployment rate increased in all 95 counties in Tennessee.
There are several projects under way in the area that have the potential to positively impact economic development, most notably I-69, Cates Landing in Lake County and developments taking place at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport.
The state jobless report revealed Tennessee’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 percent in June to 8.1 percent.
Karla Davis, commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, said the June figure was the highest since January. But it was substantially below the 9.4 percent in June a year ago.
Government and educational services combined declined by 17,400 jobs.  After seasonal adjustments, total jobs (excluding agriculture) decreased by 12,100.
The national jobless rate for June was 8.2 percent. Tennessee has been below the national figure for six months.
Unemployment rates rose in 27 U.S. states last month, the most in almost a year and a reflection of weaker hiring nationwide. The Labor Department has reported unemployment rates fell in 11 states and Washington, D.C. — the fewest since August. Rates were unchanged in 12 states.
Nationwide, employers added only 80,000 jobs last month, the third straight month of weak job growth.

Published in The Messenger 7.27.12