THE LABOR MARKET IN THE TRI CITIES METRO AREA TOOK A DOWNTURN DURING THE THIRD QUARTER. THAT ACCORDING TO DR. STEB HIPPLE WITH THE EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS. EMPLOYMENT SLUMPED BY ONE PERCENT, WHICH REFLECTS A LOSS OF OVER 23-HUNDRED JOBS COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED WORKERS INCREASED 43.2 PERCENT ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE JOBLESS RATE FOR THE TRI CITIES ROSE TO 6.2 PERCENT COMPARED TO ONLY 4.4 PERCENT A YEAR AGO.