The school break and other seasonal changes in employment contributed to an increase in unemployment rates in most Tennessee counties in July, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The rate in Hamilton County rose from 3.8% in June to 4.1% in July. Overall, unemployment rates increased from June to July in 92 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Rates remained the same in three counties.
Fifty-five counties reported unemployment rates of less than 5%. The other 40 counties had rates of 5% or greater. While the statewide rate is adjusted to account for seasonal impacts on employment, county rates are not.
Sevier County had the state’s lowest rate for the second month in a row. At 3.3%, the rate was one-tenth of a percentage point higher than in June. Cheatham County followed with the next-lowest rate at 3.4%, an increase of two-tenths of a percentage point over the previous month. Five counties — Wilson, Williamson, Sumner, Dickson, and Davidson — all reported rates of 3.6%.
Weakley County’s unemployment rate of 8.5% was the highest in Tennessee last month. That rate was up 3.5 percentage points over June’s rate. Greene County had the next-highest unemployment rate at 6.8%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points over June. Perry County’s rate was 6.7%, an increase of half a percentage point.
A breakdown of the July 2025 county unemployment data is available here.
School may be back in session, but there are still plenty of ways for young people to work and learn. Through Tennessee’s Youth Employment Program (YEP), individuals 14 to 24 years old can test-drive potential careers while earning up to $3,500. The state-funded program is year-round so youths can still sign up and work during the school year.
Learn more at yeptn.com.