Unemployment was on the rise in most Tennessee counties in May.
The state released the numbers from May on Thursday. The rate decreased in three counties, increased in 87 counties, and remained the same in five counties.
Scott County continues to have the state's highest unemployment rate, at 15.9% in May, up from 15.1% in April. The May numbers do not include the around 200 jobs lost when the Scott County Hospital shut down at the end of the month.
Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan rate of 6%, up from 5.8% in April. Knox County ranks 3rd overall for the lowest unemployment rates, followed by Blount and Loudon Counties with a 6.4% rate.
Tennessee's unemployment rate for May rose to 7.9%, up from the April revised rate of 7.7%. The national unemployment rate for May 2012 was 8.2%, 0.1 percentage point higher than the April rate.