Employment decreased in 5 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Rutherford County had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment, with a loss of 2.3 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 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
Rutherford	-2.3
Hamilton	-2.1
Shelby	-2.0
Davidson	-1.6
Knox	-0.5
Williamson	1.2

Among the six largest counties in Tennessee, employment was highest in Davidson (548,900) in September 2025. Together, the six largest counties accounted for 55.2 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 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 five large Tennessee counties with published data reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Davidson had the largest increase (+5.9 percent). Over-the-year wage changes for Tennessee's other four large counties with published data ranged from 5.6 percent to 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 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
Davidson	5.9
Rutherford	5.6
Shelby	5.4
Williamson	4.8
Knox	4.5

Weekly wages in 2 of the 6 largest counties in Tennessee were above the national average of $1,459. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,610 in Davidson to $1,262 in Hamilton.

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 86 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average. Roane reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,663). Hancock reported the lowest average weekly wage ($696) in the state.

Among all 95 Tennessee counties, 24 reported average weekly wages of less than $925, 25 had wages from $925 to $999, 18 had wages from $1,000 to $1,074, 11 had wages from $1,075 to $1,149, and 17 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)