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Local unemployment rate drops to eight percent
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The DeKalb County unemployment rate  dropped again in December, falling to eight percent, down .3 percent from the reported 8.3 percent rate in November and 1.4 percent below the 9.4 percent December 2010 rate.
The local labor force was 9,870 in December.
A total of 9,080 were employed and 790 people were without work.
DeKalb County ranked third lowest in the Upper Cumberland region, topped only by Putnam County with a 7.5 percent rate, and Cannon with 7.2 percent.
Pickett County had the highest rate in the region with a reported 14.9 percent.
Jackson County’s rate was at  10.9 percent for December, while Clay, White and Van Buren followed closely with 10.8, 10.7 and 10.6 percent.
Cumberland County had a December rate of  9.9 percent, Warren had a 9.6 percent rate, and Fentress county registered 9.5 percent unemployment.
Overton County’s rate came in at 8.7 percent, Smith was at 8.5, and Macon County had a December rate of  8.4 percent.
According to reported non-seasonally adjusted rates for December, the unemployment rate decreased in 56 counties, increased in 27 counties, and remained the same in 12 counties.
The state unemployment rate for December dropped to 8.7 percent, down .4 percent from the November revised rate of 9.1.
The national unemployment rate for December came in at 8.5 percent, a .2 percentage decrease from the November rate nationally.
The lowest rates in the state were reported in Williamson and Lincoln counties, which both rang in with unemployment rates of 5.4 percent.
Williamson fell from 5.8 percent in November and Lincoln dropped from 5.6 percent.
Scott County had the state's highest rate, a reported 18.8 percent. Scott’s rate was  up from 17.5 percent in November.
The state’s lowest major metropolitan rate was enjoyed by Knox County, whose rate dropped .4 percent from the previous month.
At 5.9 percent, Knox County was down from 6.3 percent in November.
Davidson County was at 6.9 percent, down from 7.3 percent in November.
Hamilton County’s rate was at 7.2 percent, down from 7.4 percent, and Shelby County reported an 8.8 percent rate, down from November’s  9.3 percent rate.