Nashville unemployment rate rises

Nashville’s unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent during the month of December, up from 8.8 percent a month ago, according to new figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (download report here).

The rise is consistent with the state’s jobless rate trajectory, which rose from 10.2 percent in November to 10.9 percent in December. The national unemployment rate for December is 10 percent.

Lincoln County boasts the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent, while Lauderdale and Marshall counties share Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate at 18.9 percent.

December unemployment rates for other Middle Tennessee cities are:

Brentwood: 7.4 percent; up from 6.8 percent in November

Clarksville: 8.5 percent; up from 8.3 percent in November

Columbia: 16.6 percent; up from 13 percent in November

Franklin: 8.5 percent; up from 7.8 percent in November

Gallatin: 11.4 percent; up from 11.1 percent in November

LaVergne: 11.3 percent; up from 10.5 percent in November

Murfreesboro: 10 percent; up from 9.6 percent in November

Smyrna: 10.1 percent; up from 9.8 percent in November