Fewer Unemployed Tennesseans Looking for Work

Tennessee’s July unemployment rate dropped slightly to 10.7%.

That’s one-tenth of a percent lower than it was in June. Officials say it doesn’t mean the situation is improving. Instead, Labor Commissioner James Neeley says the dip reflects an up tick in the number of people who have given up on finding work.

“Our initial claims are down significantly from where the high was. So I see a lot of solid indicators out there, but I don’t know if we’ve reached the bottom.”

The unemployment rate only reflects people who are actively looking for job.

From June to July, the number of Tennesseans who are employed dropped by more than 11,000. The number of people trying to find work fell by just over 3,000.