Unemployment Drops 6-8 Percent Across UC

Unemployment dropped between 6 and 8 percent across Dekalb, Van Buren and Warren Counties in May, the counties hit hardest by COVID 19 job losses.

All 3 had April unemployment numbers over 20 percent led by Warren County. In May, Warren County’s unemployment rate fell 7.4 percent to 17.6 percent. Dekalb County’s rate fell from 22.4 in April to 16.3 percent in May. Van Buren County saw unemployment drop from 20 percent to 12.7 percent.

Warren County’s unemployment rate remains highest in the region and second highest in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor.

Five Upper Cumberland counties saw unemployment fall back to single digits in May, led by Fentress County at 7.1 percent. Fentress County has the second lowest unemployment in the state, behind only Weakley County.

Cumberland, Overton, Pickett and Putnam counties also fell below 10 percent unemployment in May. More than 3.200 people remained unemployed in Putnam County last month.