Tennessee unemployment sits at 3.4%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2%. Here is what that tight market, local pay levels and the industry mix mean for how you recruit.
Tennessee unemployment is 3.4%, under the national rate of 4.2%, and it has barely moved from 3.5% a year ago. The job openings rate of 4.1% runs ahead of the hires rate of 3.6%. Employers are posting roles faster than they fill them. Most people who want work are already working.
Pay adds another layer. Across the roles in the wage table, Tennessee medians sit below the national medians. You may have a cost advantage. You also have candidates who will compare offers line by line and take the one that answers first and pays clearly.
The rest of this page reads the tables for you. It covers the labor snapshot, wages by role, which industries are growing or pulling back, and the statewide rules headlines. Then it turns them into tactics you can use this month.
With unemployment at 3.4% and nonfarm jobs up +0.5% to 3.38 million, the candidate pool is thin and steady rather than growing fast. A quits rate of 2.2% means some workers are moving, so the people you want are often employed and weighing a switch.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES, JOLTS). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $16.30 | $28.96 | $55.65 | 21,600 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $16.51 | $29.63 | $61.60 | 23,850 |
| Telemarketers | $10.23 | $14.17 | $23.24 | 2,210 |
| Customer service representatives | $14.95 | $20.59 | $28.88 | 59,730 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.40 | $15.36 | $22.94 | 87,380 |
| Cashiers | $10.29 | $13.74 | $17.20 | 63,350 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $14.53 | $18.35 | $23.28 | 105,870 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.51 | $13.21 | $16.86 | 90,690 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $12.85 | $16.08 | $21.96 | 38,120 |
| Sales managers | $32.32 | $61.56 | $111.46 | 12,270 |
Services sales representatives earn a median of $28.96 an hour against $33.65 nationally, with a spread from $16.30 to $55.65 that reflects commission and performance pay. Frontline roles such as cashiers at $13.74 and fast food workers at $13.21 also sit below national medians, so where you post within the local range matters.
684,600 jobs · 20.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation, and utilities holds 20.2% of jobs but changed −0.6%, so warehouse, driver and sales hiring is steadier and experienced workers from this sector may be open to roles in growing industries.
516,700 jobs · 15.3% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Private education and health services grew +1.7% at a 15.3% share, which means aides and clinic staff have options and slow scheduling will cost you candidates.
448,200 jobs · 13.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services grew +1.0% with a 13.2% share, so contact-center and sales teams should expect steady competition and screen in volume.
373,900 jobs · 11.0% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality is the fastest-growing top sector at +1.9% with 11.0% of jobs, so plan for repeated bulk hiring of servers, cooks and housekeeping staff.
354,400 jobs · 10.5% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Manufacturing was flat at 0.0% with a 10.5% share, so production hiring is mostly replacement, and a warm pool of past applicants is worth keeping.
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest sector at 20.2% of jobs but slipped −0.6% over the year. Leisure and hospitality grew fastest at +1.9%, and Private education and health services added +1.7%, so competition for frontline service and care workers is rising.
No statewide requirement was identified for background checks, ban-the-box, minimum wage, non-competes or pay transparency in the sources reviewed for this page. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm what applies to your business with the relevant agency or your employment counsel.
No statewide background checks requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
No statewide ban-the-box / fair chance requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
No statewide minimum wage requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
No statewide non-compete agreements requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
General information, not legal advice.
Employment rules change and have exceptions that depend on employer size, industry and facts. This summary reflects the sources shown as of the dates shown (legal sources checked October 15, 2026). Confirm requirements with the relevant agency or qualified counsel before acting.
Openings at 4.1% outrun hires at 3.6%, and unemployment is below the national rate. The employer who replies first often gets the interview. Text applicants as soon as they apply and offer a booking link in that first message.
Services sales pay runs from $16.30 to $55.65 an hour. A single blended number hides that range. Post the base, then describe how commission works and what a typical performer earns, so candidates can judge the offer quickly.
Most roles in the wage table have Tennessee medians below national medians. Use the local 10th to 90th percentile columns to place your offer. Posting above the local median is a clear signal in a market where workers already have jobs.
Leisure and hospitality grew +1.9%, faster than any other top sector. Set up one pipeline with templated messages, automated reminders and bulk status moves. Reuse it every time you staff up instead of rebuilding from scratch.
Trade, transportation, and utilities pulled back −0.6% while care and hospitality grew. Filter past applicants by role and experience and send targeted outreach. Someone who was not the right fit last quarter may fit an open role today.
Tennessee hiring rewards speed and volume. Openings run ahead of hires, and the fastest-growing sectors hire frontline staff in batches. Conversational SMS and automations let you text applicants from one inbox and trigger replies on status changes, so no one waits on a callback. Self-service interview scheduling lets candidates book a slot and get automated reminders without back-and-forth. When a hospitality or care team needs many hires at once, bulk actions let you message, move and manage large candidate groups in a few steps.
Unemployment is 3.4%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2%, and the job openings rate of 4.1% is above the hires rate of 3.6%. That points to a tight market. Expect most strong candidates to be employed and comparing offers.
Start with the wage table. Cashiers have a median of $13.74, retail salespersons $15.36 and hand laborers and material movers $18.35. Medians for these roles sit below national figures, so offering above the local median can help you stand out.
The sources reviewed for this page did not identify a statewide pay transparency or ban-the-box requirement. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your employment counsel.
Texting is a fast way to reach candidates, but get clear opt-in consent before you send recruiting messages. Honor STOP and other opt-out requests right away. Check your practices with counsel to make sure they fit your situation.
Leisure and hospitality grew +1.9% and Private education and health services grew +1.7%. Both hire frontline workers in volume, such as servers, housekeeping staff, aides and clinic staff. If you hire for similar roles, expect more competition.
Standardize the steps. Use templates for outreach, automate reminders, let candidates self-schedule interviews and move groups of applicants at once. That keeps reply times short when application volume spikes.
Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 20, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
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