Tri-Cities employers add 2,500 jobs in August

The Tri-Cities labor market added 2,500 nonfarm jobs in August. It was the beginning of a seasonal labor market rebound and the weakest August-July job performance it five years.

The August month-over-month job gain peaked in 2013 and 2014 at 3,300. But a slower growth rate doesn’t mean the labor market isn’t improving. In fact, it continues its crawl toward recovery from the Great Recession status.

August’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.9%. According to preliminary, nonadjusted number from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) household survey, there were a little more than 8,900 more people employed in the seven-county Tri-Cities area than there were in August last year and the labor force increased by 8,680 people. Both labor metrics are outperforming previous years for the seven-county Tri-Cities region comprising Washington, Carter, Unicoi, Hawkins, and Sullivan counties in NE Tenn. plus Scott and Washington counties in SW Va.

Preliminary, nonadjusted nonfarm jobs numbers BLS payroll put August’s regional jobs total at 203,700. That’s a 2,900 job improvement over August last year.  Like employer metrics, the nonfarm job sector has outperformed the previous years.

Here’s a capsule look at how each of the region’s two Metropolitan Statistical Areas looked in August.

The Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol TN VA Consolidated Statistical Area (aka Tri-Cities) comprises Washington, Carter, Unicoi, Hawkins and Sullivan Counties in NE Tenn. and Scott and Washington counties in SW Va.

Johnson City MSA – Washington, Carter and Unicoi counties.

• 80,400 nonfarm jobs, 1,100 more than July, 600 more nonfarm jobs than August last year.
• 700 more nonfarm jobs than August 2008 (the pre-recession benchmark)
• 88,926 employment, 2,917 more than July, 3,064 more than August last year.
• 92,386 labor force, 1,27 fewer than July, 2,917 more than August last year.
• There were 7,286 fewer people employed when compared to the pre-recession benchmark.
• There were 8,974 fewer people in the labor force than there were at the pre-recession benchmark.
• Labor sectors that added jobs in August included: manufacturing; trade transportation and utilities; education and health services; government.
• Labor sectors that lost jobs in August: other services; and professional and business services
• Year-over-year labor sectors that added jobs: leisure and hospitality; government and manufacturing.
• Year-over-year labor sectors that lost jobs: mining, logging, and construction.

The monthly Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) employment growth by industry heat charts can be found by CLICKING HERE

KINGSPORT-BRISTOL – Hawkins, Sullivan, Scott and Washington County VA

• 123,300 nonfarm jobs, 1,400 more than July, 2,300 more than August last year.
• Even with the number of jobs at the pre-recession benchmark.
• 136,277 employment, 266 fewer than July and 5,862 more than August last year.
• 141,312 labor force, 1,527 fewer than July and 5,763 more than August last year.
• There were 3,831 fewer people employed compared to the pre-recession benchmark.
• There were 7,699 fewer people in the labor force than there were at the pre-recession benchmark.
• Labor sectors that added jobs in August: education and health services; other services; government.
• Labor sectors than lost jobs in August: leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; and manufacturing.
• Year-over-year labor sectors that added jobs: professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services and trade and transportation.
• Year-over-year labor sectors that lost jobs: manufacturing; retail trade; and information

The monthly MTSU employment growth by industry heat cart can be found by CLICKING HERE