Greene County's unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in months, dropping from 10.4 percent in October to 8.7 percent in November, according to the most recent figures by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

The department's most recent figures, released Thursday, also state that there was a significant decrease in the county's overall workforce, particularly those in the overall workforce who are unemployed.

The department's latest report states that Greene County had 27,360 people employed in November, and 2,620 unemployed, in a total labor force of 29,970, according to the report.

According to the department's report for October, which was issued a month ago, Greene County during that month had 27,710 employed and 3,210 unemployed in a total labor force of 30,920.

Thus, according to the report this week, the month of November saw a decrease in both those employed and those unemployed, and, of course, a drop in the total workforce.

Statewide, the November jobless rate was 7.6 percent, down from 8.2 percent in October.

The U.S. unemployment rate in November was 7.7 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than the October rate.

All seven nearby counties -- Cocke, Hamblen, Hawkins, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington -- also experienced improved unemployment numbers.

Greene County's unemployment rate has been in double-digits in all but three months since December 2008. Other than November, those months were April and May of this year.

Greene County's unemployment rate a year ago, in November 2011, was 10.1 percent.

Here are the jobless rates in nearby East Tennessee counties in November, and the county-by-county change in those counties:

* Cocke County, 9.2 percent, down from 10.3 percent in October;

* Hamblen County, 8.0 percent, down from 9.2 percent in October;

* Hawkins County, 7.0 percent, down from 8.0 percent in October;

* Sevier County, 6.9 percent, down from 7.5 percent in October, which was revised from 7.4 percent;

* Sullivan County, 5.6 percent, down from 6.5 percent in October, which was revised from 6.6 percent;

* Unicoi County, 7.7 percent, down from 8.4 percent in October;

* Washington County, 5.5 percent, down from 6.5 percent in October.

Here are the Greene County unemployment rates in each month for the past year, beginning with November 2012:

* 8.7 percent in November;

* 10.4 percent in October;

* 10.0 percent in September;

* 11.0 percent in August;

* 11.6 percent in July;

* 11.3 percent in June;

* 9.6 percent in May;

* 9.5 percent in April;

* 10.6 percent in March;

* 11.1 percent in February

* 11.3 percent in January;

* 10.8 percent in December 2011;

* 10.3 percent in November 2011.

Unemployment numbers for Greeneville and Greene County are counted together.

Here are the November unemployment rates in Greene County in recent years:

* 8.7 percent in 2012;

* 10.3 percent in 2011;

* 12.0 percent in 2010;

* 13.8 percent in 2009;

* 9.6 percent in 2008;

* 6.5 percent in 2007;

* 6.8 percent in 2006;

* 7.0 percent in 2005;

* 6.8 percent in 2004;

* 6.2 percent in 2003;

* 5.3 percent in 2002; and

* 6.3 percent in 2001.

The November unemployment rates in Tennessee's largest cities were:

* Chattanooga, 7.3 percent, down from 8.3 percent in October;

* Knoxville, 6.3 percent, down from 7.1 percent in October;

* Memphis, 8.8 percent, down from 9.7 percent in October;

* Nashville, 5.7 percent, down from 6.5 percent in October.

The November unemployment rates in nearby smaller cities were:

* Bristol, 5.2 percent, down from 6.2 percent in October;

* Johnson City, 5.5 percent, down from 6.4 percent in October;

* Kingsport, 6.4 percent, down from 7.3 percent in October;

* Morristown, 8.9 percent, down from 10.0 percent in October.

Scott County, north of Knoxville and bordering Kentucky, had the state's highest county unemployment rate in November, at 15.3 percent.

Williamson County, south of Nashville, had the state's lowest county unemployment rate in November, with 4.4 percent.