NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's unemployment rate rose slightly in August to 8.5 percent, the fourth consecutive month there’s been an increase.
Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis says that the increase is one-tenth of a percentage point increase over the previous month.
Tennessee’s jobless rate has now climbed four-tenths above the national unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
In Tennessee, employment decreased by 5,100 jobs from July to August. Declines were reported in local government, durable goods manufacturing and trade/transportation/utilities.
There were increases in construction, hospitality, and business services.