According to figures released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Friday, Knox County's unemployment rate for November was 3.7%, the second lowest in the state and lower than the overall state unemployment rate of 4.9%.

Knox County unemployment was up .4% since October 2007, and unchanged year over year from November 2006.

November unemployment in the City of Knoxville was 5.1%, up .5% from October 2007 and unchanged from November 2006.

November unemployment for the Knoxville Combined Statistical Area (CSA) was 4.2%, up .4% from October 2007. The Knoxville CSA includes Harriman (Roane Co.), Knoxville, LaFollette (Campbell Co.), Morristown, Newport (Cocke Co.), and Sevierville (Sevier Co.) areas.

November unemployment for the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was 3.9%, up .4% from October 2007 and unchanged from November 2006. The Knoxville MSA includes Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Union counties.

The total estimated workforce in the Knoxville MSA is 358,660. Knox County's workforce is 227,150, and the City of Knoxville's workforce is 96,530.

The lowest unemployment was in Williamson County, at 3.6%. The highest unemployment was in Marshall County at 8.9%, followed by Pickett Co. at 8.8%.