While the Tri-Cities labor market is on a job-creation hot streak, the region’s two metro markets are experiencing uneven growth. The same thing can be found in the latest employment reports of the area’s three major cities. That report can be found HERE 

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll report doesn’t give job creation or salary data on anything below the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the household report cites the number of people who are employed, looking for a job, and the labor force. Employment is based on where the person lives, not where the job is located. It also counts part-time and full-time employees as employed.

Here’s a capsule version of the local cities’ employment status plus some county-based information on what jobs are open.

BRISTOL

Recovery status – not yet.

Bristol’s current unemployment rate is 3.2%. The number of employed people has increased for four of the past five months at an average rate of 58 a month. To reach recovery status, employment needs to increase by 65 people.

JOHNSON CITY

Recovery status – yes.

Johnson City’s current unemployment rate is 2.6%. Employment has increased for six straight months at the average rate of 326 people a month.

The city’s employment level is 755 people more than the pandemic benchmark.

KINGSPORT

Recovery status – not yet

Kingsport’s unemployment rate is 3.4%.

Employment has increased for four of the past five months at an average monthly rate of 79 people. To reach recovery to the pre-pandemic level, employment has to increase by 263 people.

WASHINGTON Co.

The county’s labor force participation rate has increased to 57.2% from its most recent low of 56.2%

According to the state’s Jobs4TN website, there are 2,429 open jobs in the county. The number by job sector is:

• Health care and assistance – 1,007
• Retail trade – 407
• Accommodations and food service – 430
• Administrative and support – 326
• Education services – 132
• Manufacturing – 120
• Finance and insurance – 114
• Professional, scientific and technical services – 99
• Wholesale trade – 93
• Construction – 68.

SULLIVAN Co.

The county’s labor force participation rate is trending higher. It has increased to 53.4% from the previous low of 52.8%.

According to the state jobs website, there are 6,613 open jobs in the county. The number by job sector is:

• Unclassified – 2,567
• Health care and social assistance – 1,295
• Retail trade – 523
• Professional, scientific and technical services – 497
• Administration and support – 492
• Accommodations and food service – 489
• Manufacturing – 304
• Wholesale trade – 221
• Other services – 106

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Categories: LABOR MARKET