NASHVILLE — County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for March 2012, released today, show the rate decreased in 89 counties, increased in five counties, and remained the same in one county.

Cannon County's rate dropped from 7.8 in February to 7.4 percent for March. It is down 1.5 percent from the March 2011 rate of 8.9.

State statistics show Cannon County had a labor workforce of 6,550. The number of employed is 6,070, leaving 480 as unemployed in March.

Tennessee’s unemployment rate for March fell to 7.9 percent, down from the February revised rate of 8.0 percent. The national unemployment rate for March 2012 was 8.2 percent, 0.1 percentage point lower than the February rate.

The state unemployment rate is 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.