Rhea's March unemployment rate at 3.6 percent

NASHVILLE — Newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) documented unemployment rates below 5 percent in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties in March. County unemployment rates for the month range from 2.2 percent to 4.6 percent.

Rhea County’s March unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, close to the February unemployment rate of 3.5 percent. Rhea County’s unemployment rate a year ago, in March 2023, was 4.6 percent.

During the month, the jobless number decreased in 12 counties across the state. Ten counties recorded rates that did not change from month to month, while 73 counties did see a slight uptick in their unemployment levels.

Williamson and Moore counties both had rates of 2.2 percent in March. For Williamson County, that represented an uptick of just 0.1 of a percentage point when compared with February’s statistic. In Moore County, unemployment increased by 0.3 of a percentage point during the month.

Cheatham County had the next lowest rate at 2.3 percent, up 0.1 of a percentage point from its February number.

Clay County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in March. At 4.6 percent, the county’s rate jumped up by 0.6 of a percentage point. Lauderdale County had the second-highest unemployment rate for the month at 4.5 percent, a slight increase of 0.1 of a percentage point.

As reported on April 18, Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate for March came in at 3.2 percent, a 0.1 of a percentage point drop when compared with the previous month. The statewide rate is adjusted to consider seasonal impacts on employment, while county unemployment rates are not adjusted.

Many school districts across the Volunteer State have less than a month before classes end for the year. May is Youth Employment Month in Tennessee, and this year, TDLWD is working to find thousands of young Tennesseans jobs through the Youth Employment Program, or YEP.

Youths ages 14-24 can work year-round and potentially earn up to $4,000. Before school is out for the summer, the state encourages all young people to say Y-E-P to a J-O-B. Anyone interested in securing a good-paying job that could lead to new connections and career exploration can start by going to YEPTN.com.