The Tri-Cities economy is adding an average of 300 jobs a month so far this year. That’s the seasonally adjusted total for the first quarter. In March there were 600 more jobs than March last year. The local jobs report lags the national report by a month.

Healthcare, education, and professional services are now the dominant sources of stable employment growth, while manufacturing has plateaued despite the demand for skilled labor. There’s a rising demand for IT, logistics and skilled workers reflecting a broader regional industrial diversification.

Construction, retail trade, leisure, and hospitality and government added 1,300 jobs in March while the manufacturing job sector saw a 200-job decline.

Constructions gains in both the Johnson City and Kingsport-Bristol metro areas were the top gaining sectors when compared to last year. JC is up 3.3% and Kingsport-Bristol is up 4.5%.

On the other side of the gain-loss score, care professional and business services is continuing an eight-month decline in the Johnson City area. It’s currently down 4.9%.

Kingsport-Bristol’s top sector loss is in the transportation and utilities sector. It’s down 3.8%.

5,468 JOBS ADVERTISED

Region wide, there are 5,468 open jobs being advertised in the Northeast Tenn. labor market. The highest number of openings is in the healthcare practitioners and healthcare tech areas – 859 jobs.

REGIONAL AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE

The current regional average wage is $26.95 an hour. Statewide the average is $30.93.

The region’s wage growth trend has been moderate, with most increases concentrating in healthcare  and construction. Lower wage sector jobs continue to dominate the job count.

RN’s TOP THE MOST JOBS LIST

Opening for registered nurses tops the help-wanted list with 232 openings at  an average wage of $76,899. The next four top demand jobs and salaries are:

• Retail sales – 135, $29,568
• Physicians – 113, not wage listed in Jobs4TN
• Cashiers – 100, $26,115
• License practical and Licensed vocational nurses 81 – $49,967

GROWING DEMAND

According to the state Department of Labor the top growing local demand for workers and the average annual wage is:

• Fast food and counter workers – $26,698
• Retail salespersons – $29,568
• Servers – $26,086
• Customer service representatives – $35,080
• Cashiers – $26,115

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS

The latest report shows 168 new unemployment claims in NE Tenn. There were 381 continued claims, down from 1,033, during the previous report.

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION

Washington Co. again leads the region in the labor force participation ratings at 59.3% followed by Unicoi Co. at 54%. The lowest rate is in Johnson Co. at 42.3%, followed by Hawkins, 47.2% and Greene, 48.5%.

The regional labor force remains below pre-pandemic levels, largely due to retirements and a decline in the working-age population. Employers continue having trouble recruiting skilled and entry-level workers – especially in manufacturing and trades despite some competitive wage increases.

Categories: LABOR MARKET