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Jobless rate in county 13.8 percent

Jobless rate in county 13.8 percent

The Messenger 11.23.12

Obion County’s jobless rate has increased going into the holiday season, with 1,870 people unemployed in October, according to the state’s monthly unemployment report.
Obion County’s October jobless rate increased to 13.8 percent, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The county’s September rate was 13.4 percent. Obion County continues to be ranked second in the state in unemployment.
The state’s unemployment report was released Wednesday afternoon and showed seven counties in West Tennessee as being among the 10 counties with the highest unemployment in the state. Those counties include Obion, Fayette, Lauderdale, Weakley, Dyer, Hardeman and Gibson counties.
Across northwest Tennes-see:
• Dyer County’s October unemployment rate was 11.8 percent, up from 11.3 percent in September (ranked sixth in the state).
• Gibson County’s Oc-tober unemployment rate was 11.6, up from 11.3 percent in September (ranked ninth in the state).
• Lake County’s October unemployment rate was 10.1, up slightly from 10 percent in September.
• Weakley County’s October unemployment rate was 12.5, down from 13.2 percent in September (ranked fifth in the state).
Scott County had the state’s highest October jobless rate, with 16.4 percent unemployment.
According to the state jobless report, the unemployment rate increased in 64 counties, was down in 14 counties and remained unchanged in 17 counties.
Tennessee’s unemployment rate for October dropped to 8.2 percent, down from the September revised rate of 8.3 percent, state Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development Karla Davis announced earlier this month.
The national unemployment rate for October 2012 was 7.9 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the September rate.
An overview of the state’s jobless report shows Tennessee’s October unemployment rate was the lowest since June. Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate declined from 8.9 percent to 8.2 percent.
Total non-farm employment increased 7,500 jobs from September to October, with increases in leisure/hospitality and professional/business services. There were declines in government and mining/logging/construction. Over the year, non-farm jobs increased 24,800, with increases in manufacturing and education/health services. There were declines in wholesale trade and financial activities.
Across the border in Kentucky, unemployment rates fell in 101 counties between October 2011 and October 2012, while 17 county rates increased and two stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training.
Magoffin County had the state’s highest October jobless rate at 15.5 percent. It was followed by Fulton County with 14.7 percent unemployment, which was down from the county’s 16.7 percent unemployment in September.
Woodford County recorded the lowest October jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 5.6 percent.
In recent months, Fulton County has had Kentucky’s highest unemployment rate.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ ucmessenger.com.