Nashville's unemployment sits below the national rate while leisure and hospitality adds jobs faster than any other major sector. Here is what that means for pay, speed and volume hiring.
Leisure and hospitality is the fastest-growing major sector in Nashville, up +4.9% over the year. That growth is happening in a tight market. Unemployment is 3.1%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2%, and roughly flat from 3.0% a year earlier. Restaurants, hotels and event venues are adding headcount while the pool of people actively looking stays small.
Total nonfarm employment is 1.20 million, up +0.7% over the year, with a labor force of 1.19 million. Most of the big hourly roles in the wage table pay at or below their national medians. That gives employers some room on cost, but it also means candidates are comparing several similar offers at once.
The practical takeaway: in Nashville, the employer who responds first, makes the pay clear and books the interview quickly usually wins the hire. The sections below interpret each table and turn it into steps you can act on this month.
Unemployment of 3.1% against a national 4.2% means most qualified candidates already have a job or several options. Expect to recruit people who are employed and plan for fast response times.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $16.72 | $30.26 | $58.38 | 9,370 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $17.83 | $30.67 | $64.64 | 7,890 |
| Telemarketers | $11.35 | $15.47 | $24.46 | 750 |
| Customer service representatives | $15.45 | $21.88 | $30.64 | 20,770 |
| Retail salespersons | $12.61 | $16.55 | $24.01 | 28,580 |
| Cashiers | $11.09 | $14.70 | $17.87 | 18,270 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $15.37 | $19.13 | $24.16 | 33,120 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.71 | $14.02 | $17.40 | 28,680 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $13.78 | $17.37 | $23.45 | 9,940 |
| Sales managers | $34.87 | $63.27 | $115.38 | 4,700 |
Median pay for many hourly roles, such as cashiers at $14.70 versus $15.81 nationally, runs below the U.S. median, while customer service reps at $21.88 sit slightly above the national $21.53. Benchmark each role on its own line rather than applying one local adjustment across the board.
224,700 jobs · 18.7% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
With Trade, transportation, and utilities at 18.7% of jobs and changing −0.2% over the year, experienced warehouse, driver and retail candidates may be reachable, but expect growing sectors to recruit them away.
198,300 jobs · 16.5% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services grew +0.9%, so contact-center and sales employers should expect steady competition and keep a warm pipeline of past applicants instead of starting each requisition from zero.
186,700 jobs · 15.6% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Private education and health services grew +2.4%, which keeps demand high for aides and clinic staff, so screening for credentials early and scheduling quickly matters more than casting a wider net.
145,800 jobs · 12.1% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality grew +4.9%, the fastest of the top sectors, so servers, cooks and housekeeping candidates are in demand and will accept the first solid offer.
88,700 jobs · 7.4% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Manufacturing holds 7.4% of jobs and grew +0.6%, so production and machine-operator hiring is steady and benefits from clear shift details and pay in the first message.
Trade, transportation, and utilities is the largest employer base at 18.7%, but growth is concentrated in Leisure and hospitality and Private education and health services. Those growing sectors compete for the same entry-level hourly workers that retail and warehouse employers rely on.
The table reflects that no statewide requirement was identified in the reviewed sources for the listed topics. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm current requirements, including any local or federal rules, with the relevant agency or your own counsel before changing hiring practices.
No statewide background checks requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Labor Laws) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide ban-the-box / fair chance requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Labor Laws) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide minimum wage requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (State Minimum Wage Laws) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide non-compete agreements requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Labor Laws) · checked October 15, 2026No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Labor Laws) · checked October 15, 2026Full detail on the state rules is on the Tennessee hiring page.
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.
With unemployment at 3.1%, most applicants are applying to several jobs at once. Text new applicants within minutes and offer interview slots in the same message. A same-day reply often matters more than a bigger job board budget.
Leisure and hospitality is growing +4.9%, so restaurants, hotels and event teams face rolling openings rather than one-off hires. Set up a standard sequence: auto-acknowledge, short screen, self-booked interview, reminder. Use bulk messaging to fill multiple shifts from one applicant pool.
Services sales pay ranges from $16.72 to $58.38 an hour, with a median of $30.26, below the national $33.65. Candidates read that spread as risk. State the base, the typical earnings range and how commission is earned so strong candidates can compare offers fairly.
Customer service reps earn a median of $21.88 locally, slightly above the national $21.53, while telemarketers earn $15.47. Do not assume Nashville runs cheaper for every role. Check each job against its own row in the wage table before posting.
Retail, warehouse, food service and janitorial roles draw from overlapping pools, with medians such as $16.55 for retail and $19.13 for laborers. Segment past applicants by availability and role interest, then re-engage them when a matching opening appears.
Nashville's tight market rewards speed and volume. Conversational SMS and automations let you text applicants from one inbox and trigger follow-ups the moment their status changes, so candidates hear from you before a competitor calls. When a hotel or restaurant group needs to fill many shifts at once, bulk actions let you message and move large applicant groups in one step. Self-service interview scheduling with calendar sync and automated reminders lets candidates book a slot without phone tag. Together they shorten the gap between application and interview.
The market is tight. Unemployment is 3.1%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2%, and it was 3.0% a year earlier. Most candidates have options, so fast responses and clear offers matter.
Many hourly roles pay below the national median. Cashiers earn a median of $14.70 versus $15.81 nationally, and fast food and counter workers earn $14.02 versus $15.00. Customer service reps are an exception at $21.88, slightly above the national $21.53.
Leisure and hospitality grew +4.9% and Private education and health services grew +2.4%, the strongest gains among the top sectors. Both hire large numbers of entry-level and hourly staff, so retail and warehouse employers feel that competition too.
Yes, as long as candidates have given opt-in consent to receive texts. Include clear consent language on your application, identify your company in messages and honor STOP requests right away. Confirm your specific practices with counsel.
The sources reviewed for this page did not identify a statewide requirement for background checks or ban-the-box in Tennessee. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current state, local and federal requirements with the relevant agency or your counsel.
Standardize the process before demand spikes. Use one application flow, automatic acknowledgments, a short screen and self-booked interviews. Keep past applicants organized by role and availability so you can re-engage them quickly when shifts open.
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.
Text applicants, screen and schedule interviews from one brandable platform. Start a free trial or book a demo.
30-day free trial · No setup fees · No long-term contracts
