Employment rose in 5 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee from September 2023 to September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Knox County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.2 percent. (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, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Knox	2.2
Williamson	1.5
Rutherford	1.3
Davidson	1.1
Hamilton	1.0
Shelby	-1.1

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson County (557,900) in September 2024. Within Davidson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the six largest Tennessee counties accounted for 55.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

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 86 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All six large Tennessee counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Davidson County had the largest gain (+5.6 percent), followed by Rutherford County (+4.6 percent) and Knox County (+4.5 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Tennessee, third quarter 2024

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
Davidson	5.6
Rutherford	4.6
Knox	4.5
Shelby	3.1
Hamilton	3.0
Williamson	2.7

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

Weekly wages in 2 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee were above the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Williamson County reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,539), followed by Davidson County ($1,520)

Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Among the 89 smaller counties in Tennessee—those with employment below 75,000—three reported average weekly wages above the national average: Roane ($1,573), Anderson ($1,475), and Haywood ($1,456). Hancock County ($636) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 95 counties in Tennessee were considered, 34 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 26 registered wages from $900 to $999, 18 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 7 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)