By DON FENLEY

A delayed November labor market report outlined stronger than expected job creation in a month that typically sees seasonal slowing.   The non-seasonally adjusted labor market report shows local employers added 900 jobs, and there were 800 more jobs than this time last year.

The October-to-November labor market in a nutshell:

• Consumer-facing jobs are growing
• Healthcare and government are expanding
• Logistics, finance, and utilities are stable
• Manufacturing and white-collar sectors are cooling without breaking

This mix creates the conditions for:

• fewer forced sellers
• stable household formation
• sustained demand in the move-up and upper tiers
• and a housing market that continues to rebalance instead of retrench

Construction employment stayed flat at 10,200 thousand jobs. It is one of the most important numbers in last month’s report. The data suggests:

• builders are not canceling projects
• subcontractors are still booked
• and housing supply will continue to expand, but not overshoot

The largest single driver of November’s jobs growth came from retail trade, which added 600 jobs. That is a meaningful signal in a market the size of the Tri-Cities because retail does not expand unless:

• foot traffic is rising
• consumer confidence is holding
• and household cash flow is stable

This aligns directly with what’s happening in housing data. While affordability pressures remain, mid-tier and move-up buyers are still active, and that requires ongoing retail and service sector income.

Supporting that retail strength was a second leg of growth from private education and health services, which added 200 jobs, and government, which added another 200 jobs. Together they are the economic backbone of the region.

Two sectors edged slightly lower in November.

• Manufacturing lost 100 jobs
• Professional and business services lost 100 jobs

These are the sectors most sensitive to national economic conditions, capital spending, and corporate caution. The fact that losses were limited indicated firms are pausing.

In past downturns, these same sectors would be shedding more jobs per month. Instead, they are holding near peak levels and preserving the region’s base of higher-income households.

NE Tenn. Labor Market By The Numbers

Tri-Cities unemployment rate – 4.1%

Job openings – 5,018

Median salary of advertised jobs with salary information – $38,480

Top five firms with openings

• Ballad Health – 635
• Food City – 233
• GMP Investments – 116
• Tacala – 77
• Addus HomeCare – 77

Top five industries with advertised jobs

• Health care and social assistance, 1,442
• Retail trade – 1,002
• Accommodations and food service – 452
• Administrative support – 258
• Manufacturing – 216

Top five occupations by advertised jobs

• Registered nurses – 320
• Physicians – 251
• Customer service representatives – 196
• Cashiers – 155
• Retail sales – 127

Top five industries by unemployment claims and job openings in that industry

• Unclassified – 146 – 1,538
• Manufacturing – 122 – 282
• Construction – 108 – 60
• Administrative – 91 – 298
• Retail trade – 57 – 1,165

Labor force participation rate

• U.S. – 62.4%
• Tenn. – 60.5%
• NE Tenn. – 53.4%
• Washington Co. – 60%
• Sullivan Co. – 54%
• Unicoi Co. – 53.8%
• Carter Co. – 51.6%
• Greene Co. – 48.5%
• Hawkins Co. – 47.5%
• Johnson Co. – 42.5%

Categories: LABOR MARKET