The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has revealed that in May, every county across the state recorded an unemployment rate of 5% or lower. Out of the 95 counties in Tennessee, 94 reported unemployment rates beneath the 5% threshold, with only Hardeman County in the southwestern region registering a rate of exactly 5%. When comparing the figures to those from April, it was noted that three counties experienced a decline in their unemployment rates, while the remaining 92 counties saw an uptick.
Williamson County stood out with the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6%, although this figure reflects a modest increase of four-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month. Following closely were four counties—Sevier, Rutherford, Cheatham, and Wilson—each reporting rates of 2.7%. Conversely, Hardeman County recorded the highest unemployment rate at 5%, which represents a rise of five-tenths of a percentage point since April. Johnson County came in with the second-highest rate at 4.9%, showing a decrease of three-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month, while Perry County’s rate climbed to 4.8%, an increase of eight-tenths of a percentage point from April.
The overall unemployment rate for the state of Tennessee in May was reported at 3.5%. It is important to note that, unlike the statewide rate, the unemployment figures for counties are not seasonally adjusted. For further information regarding the county unemployment statistics for May 2025, individuals are encouraged to visit the TDLWD website. Additionally, Tennessee is set to release its statewide unemployment data for June on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CDT.