Tenn. unemployment figures drop slightly in April, more people returning to work
By APThursday, May 20, 2010
Tenn. jobless rate drops slightly to 10.5 percent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s unemployment rate for April was 10.5 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous month.
Tennessee Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley said Thursday while the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at the same rate as the same year-ago period, the state is also experiencing a growing number of people returning to the work force.
The state’s labor force of 3 million in April was at the highest level since May 2009. Tennessee had about 318,300 people seeking work during the month.
The state’s biggest job gains were in the fields of leisure and hospitality; mining and construction; and trade, transportation and utilities.
The national unemployment rate in April was 9.9 percent.
