The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Knoxville, TN Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Knoxville are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 427 (0.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -25.0%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Management of companies and enterprises
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 721 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +100.3%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Utilities
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 4,590 (1.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.0%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Information
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 5,682 (1.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -16.1%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Real estate and rental and leasing
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#14. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 6,861 (1.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +44.0%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Wholesale trade
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 10,238 (2.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -8.5%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Transportation and warehousing
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 14,925 (3.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +43.6%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Public administration
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 17,061 (4.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +43.4%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Finance and insurance
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#9. Other services, except public administration
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 18,155 (4.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.8%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Administrative and support and waste management services
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 20,087 (4.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +32.7%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 26,913 (6.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.5%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Construction
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 30,997 (7.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +35.9%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Educational services
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#4. Accommodation and food services
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 37,318 (9.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +93.1%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Manufacturing
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 45,106 (11.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +39.3%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Retail trade
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 49,572 (12.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +15.9%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Health care and social assistance
Knoxville, TN Metro Area
- Employed: 56,236 (13.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.2%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
