While unemployment dropped in 90 of the state’s counties in February, three Upper Cumberland counties saw slight increases.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported increases in Dekalb, Overton and White Counties. Smith County’s unemployment remained unchanged.
In Dekalb County, unemployment increased 0.1 percent to 5.5 percent in February, meaning some 421 people are unemployed. Overton County’s rate increased 0.2 percent to 5.3 percent. February unemployment in White County also increased 0.2 percent to 4.9 percent.
Van Buren County had the biggest unemployment decrease in February as rates fell 0.6 percent to 5.8 percent.
Clay County has one of the state’s highest unemployment rates at 6.9 percent, down slightly in February. Unemployment rates are less than 5% in 39 of the state’s 95 counties and under 10% in the remaining 56 counties.
