Employment in the Tri-Cities went down in the fourth quarter 2012. It's the first time in over two years, according to a report from East Tennessee State University. The report shows employment fell by 0.6% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2011. Dr. Steb Hipple says that the fourth quarter declines are not a cause for panic. The unemployment rate dropped to 6.7%, which according to Hipple is at the same level before the recession hit. (jb)