NASHVILLE — Hawkins County’s unemployment rate for July was 8.4 percent, an increase from June’s jobless rate of 7.2 percent.
    According to figures released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 2,270 individuals out of the county’s 26,900 person labor force were unemployed.
    The July unemployment rates for neighboring counties were:  Grainger 10 percent, up from 8.2 percent in June;  Greene  9.5 percent, up from 9.3 in June;  Hancock County 9.5 percent, up from 8.6 percent in June;  Hamblen 8.8 percent, up from 7.2 percent in June;  and Sullivan 6.1 percent, up from 6 percent in June.
    Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2008 was released last week at 6.9 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than the June revised rate of 6.5 percent.  The United States unemployment rate for the month of July was 5.7 percent.
    County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for July 2008, released today, show that 60 counties increased.  The rate decreased in 29 counties and remained the same in 6 counties.
    Williamson County registered the state’s lowest county unemployment rate at 4.6 percent, down 0.2 from the June rate of 4.8 percent.  Perry County had the state’s highest at 20.3 percent, up 5.5 percent from the June rate of 14.8 percent, followed by Lauderdale County at 14.5 percent, up from 11.4 percent in June.
    “Compared to last year, Tennessee continues to see job losses in manufacturing, professional/business services and financial activities employment,” said Labor Commissioner James Neeley.  “At the same time we are experiencing year-to-year gains in educational and health services employment and in local government educational services.”
    From July 2007, educational and health services gained 6,500 jobs.  Local government educational services employment increased by 2,900; and employment in general merchandise stores was up 1,700.  Manufacturing jobs were down from a year ago with employment decreasing by 9,100; professional and business services employment lost 5,100 jobs and financial activities employment was down 3,400 jobs.
    June-to-July gains occurred in clothing and clothing accessories stores employment, increasing by 500; jobs in hospitals increased 300; and printing and related support activities employment increased by 200 jobs. Month-to-month declines included local and state government educational services with seasonal losses totaling 5,300.  Manufacturing was down 3,600 jobs.