How many jobs were added in Tennessee last month?
Refreshed monthly
Tennessee gained 1,800 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 24th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 4,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+1.8K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
24th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
Tennessee’s job growth of 1,800 in August 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was up from the 3,000 loss in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Tennessee gained jobs in 45 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 23rd-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+26,100) while job growth was weakest in June 2025 (-14,200).
There were 1,800 more jobs in August 2026 in Tennessee than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Tennessee sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and local government. Accommodation and food services added 1,900 jobs, more than the entire economy. Arts, entertainment, and recreation gained 700 jobs, while local government added 700. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were professional, scientific, and technical services, administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, and durable goods. Professional, scientific, and technical services lost 1,500 jobs in August 2026, while administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 700 jobs and durable goods lost 600 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 300 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Tennessee (August 2026)
How has Tennessee's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Tennessee gained an average of 117 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 608, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 16th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 10,300 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 10,000 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Tennessee gained an average of 117 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 10 metro areas primarily in Tennessee during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 600 jobs in the Kingsport, TN area to a gain of 900 jobs in the Memphis, TN area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Tennessee
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +900 | |
| 2. | +200 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -100 | |
| 7. | -200 | |
| 8. | -200 | |
| 9. | -300 | |
| 10. | -600 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
