County unemployment rates for July 2014 show the rate increased in 86 counties, decreased in five, and remained the same in four counties. Specific county information for July is available on the Internet; enter http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/labor_figures/CountyRates_Jul14.pdf .

Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate in July at 6.3 percent, up from 6.0 in June. Knox County was 6.6 percent in July, up from 6.3 in June. The Hamilton County July rate was 7.8 percent, up from 7.2 in June. Shelby County was 9.0 percent in July, up from 8.8 in June. Tennessee’s unemployment rate for July was 7.1 percent, five tenths of one percentage point higher than the 6.6 June revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for July was 6.2 percent, up from 6.1 percent in June.

The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.

DeKalb County's July unemployment rate was at 7.4 percent, a slight rise from 7.0 percent in June, but less than the July, 2013 rate of 8.3 percent. The labor force for July in DeKalb was 9,280, with 8,600 employed and 690 without jobs.

In surrounding counties, Wilson came in at 6.2 percent, Smith reported a 7.2 percent rate, and Cannon had a 7.4 percent rate. Putnam County’s rate was 7.8 percent, Warren had an 8.9 percent rate, and White County was at 9.5 percent.