The state of Tennessee ended 2019 with steady unemployment that continued to sit near record low levels, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

For the second consecutive month, the state recorded a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3%. The December 2019 figure is 0.1 of a percentage point away for Tennessee's all-time low unemployment rate of 3.2%, reached in February 2019.

When comparing rates from year-to-year, unemployment in December 2019 is at the same level it was in 2018.

"It's good to start 2020 with news that unemployment held steady during the busy holiday season in December," said TDLWD Commissioner Jeff McCord. "During the new year, we will continue working to help even more Tennesseans participate in meaningful employment."

Statewide, Tennessee employers continue to create new jobs. During December, nonfarm employment increased by 2,000 positions. The manufacturing, trade/transportation/utilities, and leisure/hospitality sectors reported the highest number of new hires.

Over the last year, nonfarm employment in Tennessee jumped by 49,200 jobs. The sectors with the most significant gains include leisure/hospitality, professional/business services, and trade/transportation/utilities.