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NASHVILLE –Estimates for February 2017 reveal Tennessee’s county unemployment rates have decreased in all 95 counties, according to data released today by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

ATHENS - The American Job Center for the McMinn County area will re-open in a temporary location Monday, March 20 after an electrical short caused extensive smoke damage to the facility in Athens on March 9.

ATHENS - An early morning electrical fire damaged the American Job Center at 410 Congress Parkway North in Athens, McMinn County. Due to fire, smoke and water damage, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has temporarily closed the facility.

For the month of January, Davidson County has the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 4.1 percent, increasing from 3.7 percent the previous month. Knox County is 4.7 percent, an increase from the previous month’s 4.2 percent. The Hamilton County rate is 5.5 percent, increasing from a previous rate of 4.8 percent. Shelby County has a 6.3 percent rate, increasing from December’s 5.6 percent.

GATLINBURG - The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) and Walters State Community College have started to distribute a $5.8 million National Dislocated Worker Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that will fund the hiring of workers dislocated by the November wildfire in Sevier County. The grant will fund jobs that will assist in the wildfire clean-up efforts around Gatlinburg.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announces a preliminary unemployment rate for January at 5.4 percent, increasing from the revised December rate of 5.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for January is 4.8 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month.

Claimants who received unemployment benefits during 2016 are required to report that income to the Internal Revenue Service. The amount of taxable unemployment benefits a claimant received during the year can be found on the 1099-G income tax form, which is now available to claimants, both printed and electronically.

For the month of December, Davidson County has the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 3.6 percent, increasing from 3.5 percent the previous month. Knox County is 4.1 percent, an increase from the previous month’s 3.9 percent. The Hamilton County rate is 4.8 percent, increasing from a previous rate of 4.6 percent. Shelby County has a 5.5 percent rate, increasing from November’s 5.3 percent.

NASHVILLE – In a luncheon at the Tennessee Residence today, Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam honored 23 state employees for their exceptional service to the state and their fellow Tennesseans. This is the second group of state employees receiving the Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards, a program Gov. Haslam launched in 2016 to honor outstanding state employees. Great service in state government is like great service anywhere – the key ingredient is great employees,” Gov. Haslam said. “The 23 state employees receiving this honor are on the front lines of what we do, leading the effort to help us make Tennessee the best managed state in the nation. I appreciate all the work they and other state employees do to help make Tennessee the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today the Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for December was 4.9 percent, increasing from the revised November rate of 4.8 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for December was 4.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) commissioner, Burns Phillips, announced the department has received a $5,824,000 grant from the United States Department of Labor to assist in recovery efforts following a wildfire in Sevier County last November.

NASHVILLE - The Workforce Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) issued a record number of Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC) to Tennessee employers during 2016.

For the month of November, Davidson County has the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 3.5 percent, decreasing from 3.7 percent the previous month. Knox County is 3.9 percent, a decrease from the previous month’s 4.1 percent. The Hamilton County rate is 4.6 percent, decreasing from a previous rate of 5.0 percent. Shelby County has a 5.3 percent rate, decreasing from 5.7 percent in October.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) benefits are now available for workers in Sevier County who are dislocated as a direct result of the wildfire in Gatlinburg on November 28, 2016.