The Unemployment rate in DeKalb County for November was at 6 percent, down slightly from 6.1 percent in October. The rate was substantially lower than the 7.3 percent rate reported in November 2013.

According to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the local labor force was at 9,030 for the month. DeKalb had 8,480 people employed, and 540 out of work.

In surrounding counties, Cannon had a 5.4 percent rate, Putnam was at 6.1 percent, and Smith’s rate was at 5.3 percent. Warren reported a 6.4 percent rate, White County came in at 7.7 percent, and Wilson was at 4.8 percent.

County unemployment rates for November 2014 show the rate decreased in 18 counties, increased in 63 counties, and remained the same in 14 counties.

Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate in November at 5.1 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Davidson County was 5.2 percent in November, up from 5.1 in October. The Hamilton County November rate was 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent. Shelby County was 8.1 percent in November, up from 7.8 in October.

The Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate for November was 6.8 percent, three tenths of one percentage point lower than the October revised rate of 7.1 percent. The U.S. preliminary rate for November was 5.8 percent, unchanged from the prior month.

The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.