Employment decreased in 2 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Shelby County had the larger over-the-year decrease in employment, with a loss of 2.2 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.) Knox had the largest over-the-year increase in employment (+1.0 percent).

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Tennessee, March 2025

County	Percent change, March 2025
Shelby	-2.2
Hamilton	-0.4
Rutherford	0.0
Davidson	0.1
Williamson	0.7
Knox	1.0

Among the six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson (548,000) in March 2025. Together, the six largest counties accounted for 55.3 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

All six large Tennessee counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Williamson had the largest increase (+4.8 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Tennessee's other five large counties ranged from 4.2 percent to 2.4 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Tennessee, first quarter 2025

County	Percent change, first quarter 2025
Williamson	4.8
Davidson	4.2
Rutherford	4.0
Hamilton	3.9
Shelby	2.8
Knox	2.4

Weekly wages in 2 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee were above the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,868 in Williamson to $1,262 in Rutherford.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 89 small counties in Tennessee, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 87 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average. Roane reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,650). Hancock reported the lowest average weekly wage ($703) in the state.

Among all 95 Tennessee counties, 14 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 19 had wages from $850 to $949, 29 had wages from $950 to $1,049, 14 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 19 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)