Counties with the highest unemployment in Tennessee

The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.

Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.

The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Tennessee, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in January 2025, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Jobs report shows softening labor market

February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.

"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.

Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.

The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market

After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.

Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.

The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.

In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."

"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Tennessee.

49. Overton County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,711 people (441 unemployed)

49. Scott County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,925 people (364 unemployed)

44. Roane County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,248 people (1,020 unemployed)

44. Campbell County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,384 people (684 unemployed)

44. Stewart County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,915 people (246 unemployed)

44. Van Buren County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: -0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,890 people (120 unemployed)

44. Grainger County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,446 people (438 unemployed)

40. Chester County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,950 people (298 unemployed)

40. DeKalb County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,916 people (341 unemployed)

40. Lawrence County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,508 people (834 unemployed)

40. Humphreys County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,219 people (354 unemployed)

33. Henderson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,738 people (518 unemployed)

33. Monroe County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: -0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,901 people (870 unemployed)

33. Jefferson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,579 people (1,174 unemployed)

33. Claiborne County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,779 people (561 unemployed)

33. Giles County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,001 people (575 unemployed)

33. Madison County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 44,129 people (1,934 unemployed)

33. Morgan County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,017 people (356 unemployed)

29. Henry County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,044 people (582 unemployed)

29. Wayne County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,377 people (284 unemployed)

29. Weakley County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,033 people (631 unemployed)

29. Hawkins County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,422 people (1,020 unemployed)

24. Carroll County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,085 people (554 unemployed)

24. Carter County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,474 people (1,072 unemployed)

24. Hancock County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,434 people (113 unemployed)

24. Sequatchie County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,865 people (318 unemployed)

24. Marion County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,467 people (574 unemployed)

19. White County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,023 people (515 unemployed)

19. McMinn County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,525 people (962 unemployed)

19. Jackson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,942 people (234 unemployed)

19. Rhea County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,568 people (682 unemployed)

19. McNairy County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: -0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,128 people (474 unemployed)

18. Houston County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: -0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,651 people (177 unemployed)

14. Clay County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,013 people (149 unemployed)

14. Shelby County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 424,657 people (20,610 unemployed)

14. Greene County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 28,354 people (1,392 unemployed)

14. Grundy County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,102 people (248 unemployed)

13. Lake County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5%
--- 1-month change: -0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,592 people (79 unemployed)

11. Benton County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,853 people (303 unemployed)

11. Sevier County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +2.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 51,862 people (2,685 unemployed)

9. Cumberland County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,395 people (1,252 unemployed)

9. Lauderdale County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,953 people (479 unemployed)

7. Hardeman County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,662 people (479 unemployed)

7. Decatur County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,524 people (249 unemployed)

6. Meigs County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,659 people (270 unemployed)

5. Unicoi County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,758 people (454 unemployed)

4. Johnson County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +2.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,024 people (377 unemployed)

2. Pickett County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7%
--- 1-month change: +2.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,710 people (120 unemployed)

2. Cocke County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7%
--- 1-month change: +2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,120 people (1,056 unemployed)

1. Perry County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.6%
--- 1-month change: +2.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,646 people (200 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.