News
DeKalb Jobless Rate For November Drops to 3.5%
January 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% in November, from 3.7% in October. It was also down from 5.8% in November 2020.
The DeKalb County Labor Force for November 2021 was 7,529. A total of 7,269 were employed and 260 were without work.
The employment situation improved in a majority of Tennessee’s counties during November, according to data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This comes after the statewide unemployment rate returned to pre-pandemic levels for the month.
Eighty-five counties recorded lower unemployment rates in November, while five counties saw no movement with their rates, and the remaining five counties experienced a slight increase in unemployment.
Williamson County continued to have the state’s lowest level of unemployment. At 2.1%, its November rate is down 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to October. Cheatham County had the second-lowest rate in the state, moving from 2.5% to 2.2% in November.
At 5.1%, Perry County had the highest rate of unemployment in the state. That figure represented a 0.2 of a percentage point drop from its October rate. Maury, Cocke, and Lewis counties each had a November rate of 4.7%. That accounted for a 0.2 of a percentage point increase for Maury County, a 0.5 of a percentage point increase for Cocke County, and a 0.3 of a percentage point jump in Lewis County.
Statewide, Tennessee experienced lower unemployment for the sixth consecutive month. With a November seasonally adjusted rate of 4%, down 0.2 of a percentage point from October, the state matched its pre-pandemic unemployment levels. In March 2020, the state’s rate was 4% and then spiked to an all-time high of 15.8% the next month.
Nationally, unemployment also improved in November. The seasonally adjusted rate for the month was 4.2%, down 0.4 of a percentage point from the October rate of 4.6%.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to factor in seasonal economic influences such as school breaks and severe weather conditions, while county unemployment rates are not.
Job seekers across Tennessee can access helpful information and assistance online or in person. They can learn more about what services are available at www.TNWorkReady.com.
Social Security Beneficiaries to Get 5.9% Increase in January but Medicare Part B Premiums to also Rise
January 1, 2022
By:
Social Security beneficiaries are slated to receive a 5.9% increase in 2022, the biggest boost in benefits in 39 years.
The cost-of-living adjustment will mean an increase of about $92 a month for most retired workers, bringing the average benefit to $1,657 per month.
The Social Security Administration will be sending out letters to beneficiaries detailing how much increase they will see but you can do a little math to find out how your payment will change.
The easiest way to calculate your benefit is by taking your current monthly payment then multiplying it by 5.9%. Add that amount to the original payment and you will see the increase that will be reflected in your check.
There is something important to keep in mind, however. Medicare Part B premiums are increasing from $140.50 to $170.10. The increase of $29.60 will be taken directly from Social Security checks so whatever increase is added to your existing benefits, you will have to deduct $29.60 to get the final amount.
This year’s benefit is a substantial boost over the 1.3% retirees saw in 2021. Security’s annual increase, or COLA, is determined each year using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or the CPI-W, based on the data through the third quarter.
When will new payments start?
According to GoBankingRates.com, if your birthday is on the 1st through the 10th of the month, your benefits will be paid on the second Wednesday of the month. For January, this means benefits will be paid on Jan. 12, 2022.
For those whose birth dates are on the 11th through the 20th of the month, benefits will be paid on the third Wednesday of each month, starting on Jan. 19, 2022. For people with birth dates on the 21st of the month through the 31st of the month, benefits will be paid on the fourth Wednesday of each month. January’s payments will be made on Jan. 26, 2022.
DeKalb COVID Cases Spiking Again
December 31, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
The number of active COVID cases in DeKalb County is spiking again.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, DeKalb County had 88 active cases as of Thursday, December 30, up from 74 a week earlier on December 23 and much higher than 60 on Friday, December 3.
There have been 85 deaths in DeKalb County since the pandemic began in March 2020, up by 8 since December 3 and 127 have been hospitalized due to COVID within the past 21 months, up by 12 from December 23.
At last report 44.9% of the DeKalb County population had received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 39.4% were fully vaccinated.
Over the last seven days, December 23-29 DeKalb County had a case count of 62 for a daily case rate of 43.2 per 100,000 residents. Up from 37 for a daily case rate of 25.8 per 100,000 residents the previous week
For the most recent 14 days, December 16-29 DeKalb County’s case count was 97 for a daily case rate of 33.8 per 100,000 residents. Up from 80 for a daily case rate of 27.9 per 100,000 residents the previous 14-day period.
For the 14 days prior, December 2 to December 15, the case count was 82 for a daily case rate of 28.6 per 100,000 residents. Up from 68 for a daily case rate of 23.7 per 100, 000 residents the previous 14-day period.
From March 5, 2020, to December 29, 2021, DeKalb County has had a total of 4,496 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 for a daily case rate of 33 per 100,000 residents.
Over the last 7 days the average percent positive was 17% up from 11.2%. the previous week.
« First ‹ Previous 1 778 868 876 877 878879 880 888 978 2457 Next › Last »