Monroe County's unemployment rate increased again this past month, making it the fourth highest in the state.

According to numbers released by the state Thursday, 18 percent of the county's workforce was out of work during the month of May. That increased from 17.8 percent in April. In May 2008, the unemployment rate was 8 percent.

The unemployment rate increased in 88 of the 95 counties during the month of May. The rate decreased in six counties and remained the same in one.

Perry County had the state's highest unemployment rate at 24.6 percent, up from 24.0 in April, followed by Lauderdale County at 19.2 percent, up from 18.2 percent in April. The numbers do not reflect the impact of job-creation efforts in Perry County that were announced in May.
Rounding out the top five, in order, are Scott County (18.6), Monroe County (18), and Henderson (17.3)

Lincoln County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 6.5 percent, up from 6.3 in April.  
The state unemployment rate is 10.7 percent, 0.8 percentage point higher than the April rate of 9.9 percent.  The United States' unemployment rate for the month of May was 9.4 percent.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 8.0 percent, up 0.6 percentage point from the April rate.
Davidson County was 8.6 percent, up 0.6.  Hamilton County was 8.8 percent, up 0.6 percentage point, and Shelby County was 9.6 percent, up 0.7 percentage point.