According to data released today by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce, more than 12,000 new unemployment claims were filed in the state last week. That is an increase of nearly 4,000 from the week prior.

The department reported the number of new claims for the week ending February 20, 2021 was 12,077, up from the previous week when 8,116 new claims were filed. The number remains up from the week ending March 14, 2020, when approximately 2,702 new claims were made.

The number of continued unemployment claims in Tennessee was 48,015 for the week ending February 20, 2021, down by nearly 2,000 from the previous week, when there were 49,964 continued claims.

A total of 1,074,383 new unemployment claims have been filed in Tennessee since March 14, 2020.

Taking a look at claims in the area as of February 20, 2021:

ANDERSON – Continued Claims: 497 New Claims: 77

CUMBERLAND – Continued claims: 455  New claims: 60

FENTRESS – Continued claims: 89 New claims: 27

KNOX – Continued claims: 2,508 New claims: 448

LOUDON – Continued claims: 262 New claims: 52

MORGAN – Continued claims: 119 New claims: 44

ROANE – Continued claims: 374  New claims: 70