Employment rose in 5 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee from December 2022 to December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Davidson County and Rutherford County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 2.3 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Tennessee, December 2023

County	Percent change, December 2023
Davidson	2.3
Rutherford	2.2
Knox	2.0
Hamilton	1.9
Williamson	1.8
Shelby	-0.2

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Among the six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson County (555,700) in December 2023. Within Davidson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Tennessee counties accounted for 56.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 89 counties in Tennessee with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 87 of 89 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

All six large Tennessee counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Rutherford County (+3.8 percent) had a rate of wage gain that was above the national rate of 3.6 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Tennessee, fourth quarter 2023

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2023
Rutherford	3.8
Hamilton	2.7
Knox	1.9
Shelby	1.1
Williamson	0.7
Davidson	0.2

Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Among Tennessee’s six largest counties, Williamson ($1,643) and Davidson ($1,554) had an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Among the 89 smaller counties in Tennessee—those with employment below 75,000—Roane ($1,650) and Anderson ($1,480) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,435. Hancock County ($633) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 95 counties in Tennessee were considered, 12 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 20 registered wages from $850 to $949, 30 had wages from $950 to $1,049, 17 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 16 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)