THE LATEST TRI CITIES LABOR MARKET REPORT IS OUT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2007, AND SOME MIGHT SAY SANTA BROUGHT AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT. SOME 57-HUNDRED NEW JOBS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD OF 2006. EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST DR. STEB HIPPLE SAYS THE LOCAL ECONOMY WAS SIMPLY MIRRORING THE NATIONAL TRENDS….

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MEANWHILE, IN THE THIRD QUARTER, LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ROSE BY 2.5 PERCENT. UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS FELL SHARPLY IN ALL THE TRI CITIES, 3.8 PERCENT IN KINGSPORT AND 3.9 PERCENT IN JOHNSON CITY AND BRISTOL.hipple1.mp3