Newly released unemployment data shows the jobless rate dropped in two-thirds of Tennessee's 95 counties during March 2020. The unemployment data for the month does not take into account the impact of the COVID-19 health emergency. Please note, March Unemployment Figures do not Include End of Month Business Closures.

Although the numbers seem hard to believe due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Rutherford County is now at number 2 on the list for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at only 2.7% who are currently jobless. But again, the news from the state is that these numbers DO NOT reflect the full impact of the pandemic at this point.

Davidson County is number 3 with 2.8% unemployed. As for number one with the lowest unemployment rate, it is Williamson County at 2.6%.

The federal government conducted its survey to measure the number of Tennesseans who were out of work during the second week of the month, between March 8 and 14.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development did not begin to see the unprecedented increase in unemployment claims until the third and fourth weeks of March.

Unemployment rates decreased in 61 counties during March, increased in 18 counties, and remained the same in 16 counties.

Sixty-eight counties had unemployment rates lower than 5% for the month, while 27 counties had rates that were 5% or higher.

Lincoln County recorded Tennessee's highest unemployment rate at 7%, which is a 0.2 of a percentage point drop when compared to the previous month.

You can review a complete analysis of March 2020 unemployment data for each county here.