Unemployment remains high in Helene impacted counties

Two Northeast Tennessee counties that were both significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene have reported the state’s highest unemployment rates. The latest data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development report shows Johnson County had the highest unemployment rate of the state’s 95 counties at 5.1%. The second-highest unemployment rate belonged to Unicoi County at 4.9%. Both counties sustained massive damage from Hurricane Helene which wiped out major employers and the infrastructure to sustain those operations.