Marie Millsaps

Correspondent

Like 93 out of the state's 95 counties, Monroe County saw its unemployment rate go up in December.

According to a report from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the county's jobless rate rose from 9.1 percent in November to 9.9 percent for December.

State labor officials said the monthly unemployment jump from November to December is not unusual, as seasonal holiday workers file claims after their jobs end when Christmas is over and that normally pushes the jobless rate upward.

Monroe County's employment numbers are still much better than they were this time a year ago when the unemployment rate as 12.2 percent.

TRDA officials recently released a report showing substantial job and investment growth in the Tellico West Industrial Park during the past year.

Scott County at 16.8 percent had the highest unemployment rate and Williamson County at 5 percent had the least unemployment.