Murfreesboro's unemployment rate fell to 2.8% in September from 3.1% a year earlier, below Tennessee's 3.3%. But about 440 fewer residents had jobs.
Murfreesboro’s unemployment rate was 2.8% in September, down from 3.1% in September 2025. It was also down from 3.2% in August.
That is half a point below the Tennessee rate of 3.3% and well under the U.S. rate of 4%.
The figures are the preliminary September estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, published this week. They are not seasonally adjusted, so the fair comparison is with the same month a year earlier.
The numbers behind the rate
The lower rate does not mean more Murfreesboro residents were working. In September, according to the BLS:
- 98,576 people were in the labor force, down from 99,371 a year earlier.
- 95,850 people had jobs, down from 96,291.
- 2,726 people were unemployed, down from 3,080.
So about 350 fewer residents were out of work and looking. But about 440 fewer had a job, and the labor force shrank by about 800.
The labor force counts people who have a job or are looking for one. The unemployment rate is the share of the labor force without a job and looking for one. These are counts of people who live in Murfreesboro, wherever they work. They are not counts of jobs based in the city.
The BLS figures do not say why the labor force shrank. Retirements, people moving away and people who stop looking for work all reduce it.
Murfreesboro against its neighbors
| Area | September 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| Smyrna | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| La Vergne | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Rutherford County | 2.7% | 3% |
| Nashville metro area | 2.8% | 3% |
| Tennessee | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| United States | 4% | 4.3% |
All rates are not seasonally adjusted. Sources: BLS series for Smyrna, La Vergne, Rutherford County, the Nashville metro area, Tennessee and the United States.
Every area in the table fell over the year. Murfreesboro and Rutherford County fell 0.3 points each, the same as the U.S. rate.
Smyrna, about 10 miles northwest, and La Vergne, about 14 miles northwest, were both at 2.7%. Murfreesboro sat a tenth of a point above them and level with the Nashville metro area.
Across Rutherford County, 208,675 people had jobs in September, down from 209,637 a year earlier. The county’s labor force fell to 214,456 from 216,061, and 5,781 people were unemployed, down from 6,424.
The past year, month by month
Murfreesboro’s rate moved between 2.7% and 3.3% over the year. It was lowest in March and May and highest in June. It stayed below the state rate every month.
| Month | Murfreesboro | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| October 2025 | no data | no data |
| November 2025 | 3% | 3.6% |
| December 2025 | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| January 2026 | 3% | 3.6% |
| February 2026 | 3.2% | 3.8% |
| March 2026 | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| April 2026 | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| May 2026 | 2.7% | 3.2% |
| June 2026 | 3.3% | 3.8% |
| July 2026 | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| August 2026 | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| September 2026 | 2.8% | 3.3% |
The BLS published no local figures for October 2025 because of the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations, the agency notes on each series.
What it means for you
- If you are looking for work, the state’s American Job Center for Rutherford County is at 1313 Old Fort Parkway. It holds regular hiring events, listed on the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s events page. The state requires registration on Jobs4TN to attend.
- If you run a business, a smaller labor force and a low jobless rate can mean fewer applicants for each opening.
- These are preliminary figures. The BLS revises each month’s estimates a month later. We will update this story when the October figures come out.
Related: Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne compared, Murfreesboro home prices and moving to Murfreesboro.
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