Labor Market & Workforce

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.

Population

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.

Travel Time

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.)
Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce * 825 W. First North Street * P.O. Box 9 * Morristown, TN 37815 * 423-586-6382 * 423-586-6576 fax