As the geographic center of East Tennessee, Morristown pulls most of its labor force from Hamblen and seven surrounding counties with a combined population of nearly 350,000 people.
With over 13,000 people living and working here and nearly 18,000 commuting in to the county to work, Hamblen County has long been considered a hub for employment. Residents of the seven closest counties drive into Hamblen County in half an hour or less.
With nearly 100 manufacturers in the community, we have a strong manufacturing workforce representing over 24% of the total workforce in Hamblen County.
Employment By Industry – Hamblen County
| Industry | # Jobs | % of Total |
| Manufacturing | 9,825 | 24.5% |
| Retail Trade | 4,768 | 11.9% |
| Health Care, Social & Educational Services | 3,769 | 9.4% |
| Government, State & Local | 3,845 | 9.6% |
| Administrative & Support Services | 3,875 | 9.6% |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 2,288 | 5.7% |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,507 | 3.7% |
| Construction | 2,005 | 5.0% |
| Accommodation & Food Services | 2,758 | 6.9% |
| Other Services, except Public Admin. | 1,791 | 4.5% |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | 912 | 2.3% |
| All Other | 1,509 | 3.8% |
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis – 2021 Employment by Industry
Having an available workforce with well-trained employees is vital to attracting industry & business to Morristown and Hamblen County. Programs through TN College of Applied Technology and Walters State Community College provide for both current and future needs for skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Other Labor Characteristics include:
· Tennessee is a right-to-work state.
· Hamblen County’s average weekly manufacturing wage is $1,057.00 (Q2 2022 Avg., Bureau of Labor Statistics)
· Unemployment Rate was 3.7% in Hamblen County (September 2023, TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Dev.)
· Unemployment Rate ranged from 3.5 to 4.6% in the seven surrounding counties (September 2023, TN Dept. of Labor & Workforce Dev.)
