📊 Tennessee Jobless Rate Holds at 3.4%, New State Training Money for Employers, and Fresh Hiring on Rankin Avenue

Or: The September Number Is In, TNWorks Opens a Training-Grant Door, and Dunlap Shops Get a Homecoming Weekend

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, October 16, 2026

Friday for Gen X on Main Street is a numbers-and-foot-traffic day. Yesterday’s state jobs report came out. A new state training program for employers went live this week. And the busiest weekend of the fall is starting on Rankin Avenue.

Here is this week’s Small Business & Jobs brief: Tennessee’s September unemployment rate held at 3.4% for a third straight month (released Thu., Oct. 15, 1:30 p.m. CT). County numbers for Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Marion come out Thu., Oct. 22. The state’s new TNWorks Talent Accelerator lets employers apply for training money, including a Rural Works program that starts with healthcare jobs. The Bee’s Knees Pub, Griffith Elementary and Presley Healthcare posted openings. Homecoming plus Days of Yesteryear means downtown should be busy through Sunday. AAA has Chattanooga regular near $3.72 this morning.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• The number: TN jobless rate 3.4% in September, same as July and August, down a tenth from a year ago. The U.S. rate was 4.2%. County rates come out Thu., Oct. 22, 1:30 p.m. CT.
• Employers: TNWorks.com now takes requests for training money. TNTalent ($5 million, federal) covers nuclear, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. Rural Works ($2 million, state) starts with healthcare.
• Hiring near home: Bee’s Knees Pub, 16166 Rankin Ave. (kitchen Tue.–Sat., servers Fri./Sat. nights; apply in person). Griffith Elementary needs a Behavior Support Program teacher. Presley Healthcare is hiring nurses, including in Pikeville.
• Shop owners: Parade crowds today, tractors Sat.–Sun. 8–4. The Nothing Bundt Cakes pop-up runs at Firefly on Rankin today, 11–5.
• Dropped: The Aerotek Dunlap production-worker job is filled on Aerotek’s own site. Don’t chase old aggregator listings.

📊 September Jobs Report: 3.4% for the Third Month in a Row

Tennessee’s Department of Labor posted the September statewide numbers Thursday at 1:30 p.m. CT. Here’s what they show:

• Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted): 3.4%, unchanged from August and July and down one-tenth of a point from a year ago. Before July, the state hadn’t been at 3.4% or lower since July 2024.
• U.S. rate: 4.2% last month, so Tennessee stays well below the national rate.
• Jobs over the year: employers added 28,400 nonfarm jobs. Leisure and hospitality grew most, then healthcare and social assistance, then state government.
• Jobs over the month: up 2,500, led by leisure and hospitality; professional, scientific and technical services; and government.
• The fine print (state analysis): employed people rose by 5,800. Unemployed fell by 1,700. Labor-force participation rose a little, from 59.2% to 59.3%. But the total labor force is down more than 51,100 since September 2025.

Not out yet: rates for Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Marion and Hamilton counties. The state’s schedule has September county data on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 1:30 p.m. CDT. County rates are not seasonally adjusted, so they can swing more than the state rate.

One more data point: the state’s WARN list (advance notice of big layoffs) shows no new Southeast Tennessee notices since its last posting on Sept. 2. The Pilgrim’s Pride plant on Broad Street in Chattanooga (315 workers) closed as scheduled on Sept. 25.

What it means for you: A low rate with a shrinking labor force means fewer people are looking for work, so good hires are still hard to find. If you’re hiring, raise the pay or offer schedule flexibility before you post the same ad again. If you’re job hunting, employers are adding jobs and layoffs are quiet. Check back next Thursday for our county’s rate.

👉 Read more (TN Labor: September release) · State analysis · WARN notices

🛠️ New This Week: TNWorks Training Money for Employers (Rural Works Starts With Healthcare)

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the state launched the TNWorks Talent Accelerator at TNWorks.com. It’s one site where employers can list their workforce needs, connect with training providers and start enrolling in grant-supported training. Two programs are listed now:

• TNTalent: $5 million in U.S. Department of Labor money to help pay for training new hires and current employees in nuclear energy, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
• Rural Works: a $2 million state program for employers in rural counties. It starts with a healthcare pipeline and will add other sectors later.

The same TNWorks page lists other programs: custom training through TCATs and community colleges (any size employer), Incumbent Worker Training grants (for-profit or nonprofit, at least one year in business, employer match required), and FastTrack for training net-new full-time hires. Reimbursement rates and caps vary by program. Get the terms from TNWorks before you budget anything.

If you want to see the nuclear jobs side in person: Chattanooga State’s Nuclear Career & Industry Expo is Tue., Oct. 20, noon–7 p.m. (Chattanooga time; 11 a.m.–6 p.m. CT) in the McCormick Building, rooms MCC 107–109. It’s built for students meeting employers. If you’re an adult changing careers, call ahead to confirm you can walk in.

What it means for you: Clinics, home-health agencies and nursing homes in the Valley should look at Rural Works first. Shops that make parts or do machining should check whether their work counts as advanced manufacturing under TNTalent. Use the “request a meeting” button on TNWorks.com. Spend 20 minutes with a TNWorks representative before you spend a weekend on paperwork.

👉 Read more (TN Labor: Talent Accelerator) · TNWorks: Training & Upskilling · ChattState Nuclear Expo

🍳 Hiring Close to Home: Rankin Avenue, Griffith Elementary and Pikeville Nursing

New posts on Dunlap.Today Thursday:

• The Bee’s Knees Pub (16166 Rankin Ave., Dunlap): Kitchen staff work Tuesday through Saturday; experience is preferred, but work ethic counts most. Weekend servers work Friday and Saturday nights, the busiest shifts. Apply in person at the motel lobby at that address and talk to management. No pay is listed, so ask when you go.
• Griffith Elementary (Dunlap): hiring a Behavior Support Program Teacher. You need a teaching license with endorsement 460, 461 or 144 and experience with behavior intervention plans and de-escalation. Apply through the Sequatchie County School System’s online hiring portal.
• Presley Healthcare: hiring nursing staff at its Jamestown, Monterey and Pikeville locations. Apply online at presleyhealthcare.org.
• Chattanooga, if you’ll drive: Ford’s Garage opened its first Tennessee restaurant at Hamilton Place (2102 Hamilton Place Blvd.) with a ribbon cutting Tuesday. Local reports say it brings about 150 jobs. We didn’t find a public application link; ask in person or check the company’s site. Labor Finders (5646 Brainerd Rd., Suite D) added electricians and electrician assistants for the Asian Lantern Festival setup. Walk in Mon.–Fri. 9–11 a.m. or 2–4 p.m. Chattanooga time with two forms of ID, or call 423-698-5380.

Removed from our list: Aerotek’s Dunlap General Production Worker job shows as filled on Aerotek’s own page. The Dollar General Cagle Mountain open interviews were Oct. 14–15. Call the store if you missed them.

What it means for you: If a teenager needs weekend money, Bee’s Knees is a five-minute drive. If you’re a licensed teacher or nurse, the openings this week are close to home.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Bee’s Knees) · Griffith Elementary · Presley Healthcare · Ford’s Garage (The Pulse) · Labor Finders electricians

🛍️ Main Street Weekend: Homecoming, Tractors, and a Shop Hop to Plan For

Full parade and game coverage is in GenX 1/5. This section is just about business. Today’s homecoming and this weekend’s free Days of Yesteryear tractor show (Sat.–Sun., 8 a.m.–4 p.m., 287 Pine St.) should bring the most downtown traffic of the fall.

• Today: Nothing Bundt Cakes pop-up at Firefly on Rankin, 15219 Rankin Ave., 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or until sold out. Questions: (423) 653-8863.
• New and growing: Mission Structures (16218 Rankin Ave., (423) 558-0246) broke ground this week on another custom barndominium on Rankin Avenue. Rolling Oak Distillery (324 Whiskey Lane) started a Thursday deli. The post says 12:30–6:30 p.m. “EST,” but Dunlap is on Central time, so call (423) 582-0917 to confirm the hours. Over the mountain, Bolt Farm Treehouse in Whitwell opened a new Studio Treehouse villa after it was fully booked for October. That’s a good sign for Valley tourism.
• Plan now for Nov. 7: the Small Town Christmas Shop Hop runs downtown Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Participating shops so far include Northstar Boutique, The Dunlap Mercantile, Sequatchie Valley Brewing, Local Depot, Game Shack Cafe, Natural Affinity, Fix’nz for the Soul, Firefly on Rankin and Sunny Valley Thrift. Studio Dunlap is coordinating. If you want in, ask Studio Dunlap soon. We didn’t find a published sign-up deadline.
• Cold-front note for trades: The NWS has Saturday night near 38 after a record-hot week, so the first round of furnace calls is probably coming. HVAC and propane shops should staff the phones Monday. Farm businesses: the FSA drought emergency loan deadlines for Sequatchie and Marion are Dec. 10, 2026 and Jan. 6, 2027. City Hall’s Thursday vote on Ordinance 321 (rezoning 1466 and 1494 Main St.) wasn’t posted at press time. Call 423-949-2115.

What it means for you: Stock up and staff up for Saturday. Put your hours on the door and on social media. Get a QR code or tap-to-pay at the register before tractor crowds walk past. And put your name on the Nov. 7 list before the flyers are printed.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Firefly pop-up) · Days of Yesteryear · Shop Hop Nov. 7 · Mission Structures · Rolling Oak deli · FSA drought designation

📅 Week-Ahead Business Calendar (Fri Oct 16 – Fri Oct 23)

• Fri., Oct. 16: Homecoming in Dunlap (see GenX 1/5 for times). Nothing Bundt Cakes pop-up at Firefly on Rankin, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Sat., Oct. 17, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.: Young Entrepreneurs Day at the Dunlap Farmers Market (youth vendors).
• Sat.–Sun., Oct. 17–18, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.: Days of Yesteryear antique tractor show, 287 Pine St. Free admission.
• Tue., Oct. 20, 7:30–9 a.m.: SVEC Member Appreciation Morning, Sequatchie District Office, 97 Resource Road, Dunlap. Free breakfast for members, no RSVP.
• Tue., Oct. 20, noon–7 p.m. Chattanooga time (11–6 CT): Nuclear Career & Industry Expo, Chattanooga State, McCormick Building MCC 107–109.
• Wed., Oct. 21, 5:30–7 p.m. Chattanooga time: “Pricing with Confidence,” Small Business Resource Center, 332 E. MLK Blvd., Chattanooga. Register on Eventbrite and confirm the cost before you go.
• Wed., Oct. 21 – Sat., Oct. 24: Friends of the Library Whale of a Book Sale & Silent Auction, Sequatchie County Public Library, 227 Cherry St. Bidding opens Wed. at 10 a.m. The post says bidding closes “Thursday, Oct. 24,” but Oct. 24 is a Saturday, so call ahead for the real closing time.
• Thu., Oct. 22, 1:30 p.m. CT: TN September county unemployment rates (Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Marion, Hamilton).
• Thu., Oct. 22: Rolling Oak Distillery Thursday deli, 324 Whiskey Lane. Call to confirm hours.
• Coming up: Idea Leap grant applications are due Mon., Oct. 26, 5 p.m. ET (for businesses with 2–25 employees; Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Marion are in the Chattanooga region). Bus garage roof sealed bids are due Mon., Oct. 26, 10 a.m. CT; you must visit the site first (weekdays 8 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 14999 Rankin Ave.) and deliver bids to 878 Cordell Dr., ATTN: Scotty Holland, BG Roof Bid. The Small Town Christmas Shop Hop is Sat., Nov. 7.

👉 TN unemployment release schedule · SVEC mornings · Pricing with Confidence · Whale of a Book Sale · Idea Leap · Bus garage roof bid

⛽ Cost-of-Business Check: Gas Down Again, Mortgage Rates Flat

AAA’s Friday, Oct. 16, survey has Chattanooga (TN only) regular at about $3.72 ($3.7246), down from $3.74 yesterday and about $3.90 a week ago. Chattanooga diesel is about $5.75. The Tennessee average is about $3.87 for regular and $6.00 for diesel. Freddie Mac’s Oct. 15 survey has the 30-year fixed at 7.40% (unchanged) and the 15-year at 6.71%.

What it means for you: Regular gas is cheaper for weekend deliveries, but diesel is still expensive for work trucks. Plan routes to cut miles. Borrowing costs haven’t moved, so equipment and building loans cost about what they did last week.

👉 AAA Tennessee gas prices · Freddie Mac PMMS

✅ Your Gen X Business & Jobs Checklist

• ✅ Note that the state rate is 3.4%. Check back Thu., Oct. 22 for Sequatchie County’s own rate.
• ✅ Employers: go to TNWorks.com, look at TNTalent and Rural Works, and request a meeting.
• ✅ Healthcare or manufacturing employer? Ask TNWorks which program fits before you fill out an application.
• ✅ Teen or adult who needs nights and weekends: apply in person at Bee’s Knees, 16166 Rankin Ave.
• ✅ Licensed teachers: look up the Griffith Elementary posting on the county schools hiring portal. Nurses: go to presleyhealthcare.org.
• ✅ Shop owners: staff up and stock up for Sat.–Sun., and put your hours on the door.
• ✅ Ask Studio Dunlap about getting into the Nov. 7 Shop Hop.
• ✅ HVAC and trades: expect furnace calls after Saturday night’s cold.
• ✅ SVEC members: free breakfast Tue., Oct. 20, 7:30–9 a.m., 97 Resource Rd.
• ✅ Mark Oct. 26 on your calendar twice: Idea Leap (5 p.m. ET) and the roof bids (10 a.m. CT).
• ✅ Bookmark Dunlap.Today Jobs and Dunlap.Directory, and tell us when you’re hiring.

Practical rule: Watch the county number on Thursday, ask TNWorks before you pay for training, and staff up for Saturday’s crowds.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Business & Jobs Glossary

• Seasonally adjusted: A rate adjusted to remove normal seasonal swings, like summer school breaks or holiday hiring, so you can compare one month to the next. The state rate is adjusted. County rates are not.
• Labor-force participation rate: The share of adults who are working or actively looking for work. Tennessee’s is 59.3%.
• Nonfarm jobs: The count of payroll jobs outside farming. It’s the main “jobs added” number.
• Incumbent worker training: Training for people you already employ, as opposed to new hires.
• TNWorks Talent Accelerator: The state’s new one-stop site where employers can list workforce needs and apply for grant-supported training.
• WARN notice: Advance notice that larger employers must give before a mass layoff or closure. Tennessee posts them on the Labor Department site.
• Endorsement (teaching): A subject or specialty added to a Tennessee teaching license. Griffith’s opening asks for 460, 461 or 144.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What was Tennessee’s September unemployment rate?

3.4%, seasonally adjusted. That’s the same as August and July and a tenth of a point lower than a year ago. The U.S. rate was 4.2%. The Tennessee Department of Labor released it Thu., Oct. 15, at 1:30 p.m. CT.

When will Sequatchie County’s rate be out?

Thursday, Oct. 22, at 1:30 p.m. CDT, along with every other county and metro area. County rates aren’t seasonally adjusted, so don’t compare them directly to the 3.4% state number.

Can a small Valley business use the new TNWorks training money?

Possibly. TNTalent covers nuclear energy, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. Rural Works covers rural-county employers and starts with healthcare. Other TNWorks programs, like custom TCAT training, are open to employers of any size. Request a meeting on TNWorks.com to find out which one fits.

Is the Aerotek Dunlap production job still open?

No. Aerotek’s own jobs page shows it filled. Some aggregator sites may still list it. Call 1-888-AEROTEK if you see a new Dunlap posting.

How do I apply at The Bee’s Knees Pub?

In person at the motel lobby, 16166 Rankin Ave., Dunlap. Kitchen shifts are Tuesday–Saturday, and server shifts are Friday and Saturday nights. Pay isn’t listed, so ask management.

🔗 Other Resources

• Dunlap.Today: Jobs & Employment
• Dunlap.Directory
• Jobs4TN.gov
• TNWorks: Training & Upskilling
• TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development · (844) 224-5818
• TN Labor: Hiring Events
• TVFCU Idea Leap Grant · 423-634-3600
• TSBDC of Chattanooga · 423-756-8668
• Sequatchie County/Dunlap Chamber
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC)
• City of Dunlap: business licenses · 423-949-2115
• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

🌄 Steady Numbers, a New Door, and a Busy Weekend

This week is fairly calm. The state rate didn’t move, there are new training programs worth a meeting, and a busy weekend is coming. Check the county number on Thursday, look at TNWorks if you employ people, and staff up for Saturday.

We’ll keep tracking Valley hiring, Main Street openings and the money deadlines that matter. Read Dunlap.Today and send us the jobs and businesses we should know about.