NASHVILLE-Cocke County's unemployment rate droppedone-tenth of a percent to 12.1 percent in October, according to figures fromthe Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Out of a workforce of 16,820 people, 2,040 were withoutjobs.

In the region, Sevier County has the lowest mark at 9.3percent, up one-tenth from September. Jefferson County came in at 11.4 percent,up three tenths from the previous month, while Hamblen County had a rate of12.3 percent. Greene County had the highest figure at 14.1 percent.

Tennessee's unemployment rate for October was 10.5percent, unchanged from the September rate of 10.5 percent.  The United States' unemployment ratefor the month of October was 10.2 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates forOctober 2009, released today, show that the rate increased in 38 counties,decreased in 42, and remained the same in 15 counties.

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest countyunemployment rate at 6.9 percent, unchanged from its September rate.  Lauderdale County had the state'shighest unemployment rate at 18.9 percent, up 0.1 from the September rate,followed by Hancock County at 18.0 percent, down from 18.4 percent inSeptember.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitanrate of 7.8 percent, down 0.3 percentage point from the September rate.  Hamilton County was at 8.8 percent, up0.1 percentage point from the September rate.  Davidson County was 8.9 percent, down 0.2 from the previousmonth, and Shelby County was 10.2 percent, up 0.1 from the September rate.