How Tennessee’s Job Market Compared to the US Over the Last 47 Years

By Sam Stebbins Published Dec 23, 10:45AM EST

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How Tennessee’s Job Market Compared to the US Over the Last 47 Years — © halbergman / iStock via Getty Images

In an era of economic uncertainty, the U.S. job market remains resilient. After falling to 3.7% in November 2023, the national unemployment rate has been below 4% for 22 consecutive months, the longest streak in over 50 years.

Of course, if history is any guide, much of the economy is subject to boom and bust cycles — and the job market is no exception. Since the mid-1970s, the average annual unemployment rate in the U.S. has fluctuated between 3.6% and nearly 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These same cyclical patterns are also evident in Tennessee, where the job market is supported largely by the manufacturing and retail trade industries. The annual unemployment rate in the state was 3.4% in 2022, a multi-decade low. However, conditions for job seekers have not always been so favorable.

According to historical BLS data going back to 1976, the annual jobless rate has been as high as 11.7% in Tennessee. More than once, unemployment in the state has either matched or come close to that peak.

This is how Tennessee’s job market has changed in each of the last 47 years.

1976: 6.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.1% (7.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.7% (61.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 113,519

1977: 6.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.8% (62.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 121,455

1978: 5.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.7% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 114,951

1979: 5.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.2% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 119,066

1980: 7.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.4% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.9% (63.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 149,270

1981: 9.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.0% (7.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (63.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 188,410

1982: 11.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 11.7% (9.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 249,753

1983: 11.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 11.5% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.3% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 253,825

1984: 8.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.5% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.9% (64.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 196,135

1985: 7.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.9% (7.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.6% (64.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 178,736

1986: 7.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.9% (7.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.2% (65.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 181,607

1987: 6.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.6% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.3% (65.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 155,547

1988: 5.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.7% (65.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 135,222

1989: 5.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.1% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.0% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 120,569

1990: 5.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.7% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 127,321

1991: 6.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.8% (6.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.3% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 159,758

1992: 6.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.5% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.7% (66.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 159,553

1993: 5.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.8% (6.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (66.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 147,585

1994: 4.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.4% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 127,634

1995: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.8% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 140,257

1996: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (5.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 143,041

1997: 5.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 146,417

1998: 4.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 121,568

1999: 4.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.0% (4.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 112,853

2000: 3.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.9% (4.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.4% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 110,241

2001: 4.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.6% (4.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.9% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 129,038

2002: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.2% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 148,524

2003: 5.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (6.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.7% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 160,215

2004: 5.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.8% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 154,881

2005: 5.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (5.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.9% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 160,266

2006: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 158,670

2007: 4.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.7% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.9% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 141,312

2008: 6.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.6% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 198,685

2009: 10.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 10.5% (9.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.3% (65.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 307,524

2010: 9.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.7% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (64.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 304,062

2011: 9.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.0% (8.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.7% (64.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 284,214

2012: 7.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.7% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 246,595

2013: 7.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (7.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.8% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 238,765

2014: 6.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.6% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.6% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 201,033

2015: 5.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.6% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.6% (62.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 171,532

2016: 4.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.7% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.2% (62.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 148,720

2017: 3.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.8% (4.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.5% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 119,517

2018: 3.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.5% (3.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.0% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 113,261

2019: 3.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.4% (3.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.8% (63.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 111,606

2020: 7.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.5% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.4% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 246,521

2021: 4.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.2% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 149,410

2022: 3.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.4% (3.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.9% (62.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Tennessee: 113,471

Year	Tennessee unemployment rate	U.S. unemployment rate	Unemployed population in Tennessee
1976	6.1	7.7	113,519
1977	6.2	7.1	121,455
1978	5.8	6.1	114,951
1979	5.8	5.8	119,066
1980	7.4	7.1	149,270
1981	9.0	7.6	188,410
1982	11.7	9.7	249,753
1983	11.5	9.6	253,825
1984	8.5	7.5	196,135
1985	7.9	7.2	178,736
1986	7.9	7.0	181,607
1987	6.6	6.2	155,547
1988	5.8	5.5	135,222
1989	5.1	5.3	120,569
1990	5.3	5.6	127,321
1991	6.8	6.8	159,758
1992	6.5	7.5	159,553
1993	5.8	6.9	147,585
1994	4.8	6.1	127,634
1995	5.2	5.6	140,257
1996	5.2	5.4	143,041
1997	5.3	4.9	146,417
1998	4.3	4.5	121,568
1999	4.0	4.2	112,853
2000	3.9	4.0	110,241
2001	4.6	4.7	129,038
2002	5.2	5.8	148,524
2003	5.6	6.0	160,215
2004	5.3	5.5	154,881
2005	5.6	5.1	160,266
2006	5.2	4.6	158,670
2007	4.7	4.6	141,312
2008	6.6	5.8	198,685
2009	10.5	9.3	307,524
2010	9.7	9.6	304,062
2011	9.0	8.9	284,214
2012	7.8	8.1	246,595
2013	7.8	7.4	238,765
2014	6.6	6.2	201,033
2015	5.6	5.3	171,532
2016	4.7	4.9	148,720
2017	3.8	4.4	119,517
2018	3.5	3.9	113,261
2019	3.4	3.7	111,606
2020	7.5	8.1	246,521
2021	4.3	5.3	149,410
2022	3.4	3.6	113,471

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at a673b.bigscoots-temp.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.