Greene County's unemployment rate declined in October to 14.1 percent from 14.2 percent in September, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday.

It was the third consecutive month that Greene County's jobless rate has dropped, although slightly. The county's unemployment rate had peaked at 17.3 percent in July.

The state's latest unemployment report listed Greene County in October 2009 as having 26,190 people employed and 4,300 unemployed in a total labor force of 30,490 people.

That was 30 fewer people than the 26,220 listed by the state as employed in this county during October. But the state also said Greene County's total labor force also dropped by 60 workers from 4,360 in September.

The state's latest unemployment report listed Greene County in September 2009 as having 26,220 people employed and 4,360 unemployed in a total labor force of 30,580 people.

Reflecting the recession's impact, unemployment in Greene County previously had risen steadily each month since October 2008, when it was 9.1 percent, through July, when it was 17.3 percent.

Throughout 2008, Greene County had an average monthly jobless rate of 9.1 percent, which itself was higher than that of any other recent year.

Tennessee's statewide unemployment rate remained at 10.2 in October, the same as in September.

The United States' unemployment rate also remained the same in October, being 9.5 percent, the same as in September.

Greene County's October unemployment rates in recent years have been:

* 9.1 percent in 2008;

* 6.1 percent in 2007;

* 5.8 percent in 2006;

* 7.1 percent in 2005;

* 6.5 percent in 2004;

* 5.8 percent in 2003;

* 4.9 percent in 2002;

* 6.2 percent in 2001.

Greene County's 14.1 percent unemployment rate in October was higher than that of any neighbroing counties.

Here are the October 2009 unemployment rates in nearby counties:

* Cocke, 12.1 percent;

* Hamblen, 12.3 percent;

* Hawkins, 10.5 percent;

* Sullivan, 9.0 percent;

* Unicoi, 10.1 percent;

* Washington, 8.6 percent.

The state's four most populous combined statistical areas (CSAs) reported these unemployment rates in October:

* Chattanooga, 9.5 percent, up from 9.3 percent in September;

* Knoxville, 9.0 percent, down from 9.3 percent in September;

* Nashville, 8.9 percent, down from 9.1 percent in September;

* Memphis, 11.0 percent, up from 10.9 percent in September.

The October unemployment rates in nearby smaller cities were:

* Bristol, 8.8 percent, down from 9.4 percent in September;

* Johnson City, 8.5 percent, changed from September;

* Kingsport, 9.7 percent, up from 9.1 percent in September;

* Morristown, 14.4 percent, down from 14.7 percent in September;

* Oak Ridge, 8.3 percent, down from 8.5 percent in September.

Jobless totals for Greeneville and Greene County are counted together by the state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Lauderdale County, in West Tennessee along the Mississippi River, had the state's highest unemployment rate in October, at 18.9 percent.

Lincoln County, located in Middle Tennessee bordering Alabama, had the state's lowest October unemployment rate, at 6.9 percent.