Writer: Eleana Teran
August 2025 — Nashville continues to stand out on the national stage, this time as one of the best cities in the United States for employment opportunities and earning potential.Â
According to a recent report by Checkr, which analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Nashville metro area ranked second among the country’s 100 largest metro areas across seven metrics, including unemployment rate, labor force growth, and per capita income, placing just behind Raleigh.
It confirms what local leaders and employers have observed for years: Nashville’s fundamentals are strong, and its economy is maturing in ways that consistently deliver for residents, workers, and businesses.Â
“We are fortunate to operate in Tennessee, which has the fastest-growing economy, the lowest debt per capita, and one of the lowest tax rates per capita,” said David Briggs, Fifth Third Bank’s Tennessee Regional President. “Our unemployment rate hovers around 2.5%. The state continues to attract new residents, which we cannot take for granted.”
A central driver of the metro’s high ranking is its ability to attract and retain both talent and employers. The healthcare sector remains a key pillar, but Nashville has steadily expanded its footprint in technology, logistics, professional services, and advanced manufacturing. Growth in these industries has helped lift household incomes while reinforcing long-term job stability.Â
“Nashville is a dynamic market with a tremendous amount of wealth moving to and being created here,” said Lawson Allen, president and chairman at Lee, Danner & Bass, Inc. “We have automotive, hospitality, technology, and more. We have some Amazon exposure; Oracle is bringing more tech jobs. That diversity is healthy because every industry can be cyclical.”
Suburban and neighboring counties are contributing in a meaningful way. In Gallatin, a data center expansion on Meta’s campus was announced this year, part of a broader corporate presence that includes Servpro’s headquarters, a state-of-the-art Gap distribution center, and Beretta USA’s manufacturing facility.Â
“Over the past decade, our median income has increased by nearly 50%,” said Rosemary Bates, executive director of the Gallatin Economic Development Agency. “Part of that growth comes from the businesses we’ve attracted, and part is due to the broader trend of people relocating to Tennessee, particularly to Middle Tennessee.”
In Wilson County, Mayor Randall Hutto noted the dual forces of job creation and labor movement across county lines. “About 49,000 residents commute out of the county for work, and we want to increase the number of people staying in the county for work. Thirty-one thousand people are coming into the county for work, which helps local economies,” he said. “If we can create better jobs here and keep more people working in the county, that will reduce traffic congestion and shorten commute times.”
Despite the strong numbers, the region’s success hasn’t come without challenges. Growth has intensified demand for housing and transit, prompting both attention and action from local leaders. “One of the biggest concerns I hear about is housing costs. Even outside of Nashville, prices are rising,” said Chris Hight, chief manager at KraftCPAs. “There’s a lot of construction, apartments, and multifamily units to keep up with demand, but it’s tough.”
Still, Hight remains optimistic: “Tennessee has done a great job. We’ve attracted a lot of people and companies from out of state. And with Nashville being known for healthcare, we’ve got world-class hospitals and a strong presence in healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and intellectual property.”
On the policy side, efforts are underway to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with economic growth. “The new smart traffic lights and bus rapid transit corridors should improve traffic flow and job access, especially downtown,” said Teresa Broyles-Aplin, president and CEO of Nashville Electric Service. “It’s good for the city and for our workforce.”
Employers across the region are also playing a role in ensuring the benefits of growth are widely felt.Â
“We want to be stewards of the community and be actively engaged in the nonprofit sector and our school systems. This means contributing money and time to ensure we are doing things that help make our community a better place. It’s not just about banking, it’s about making Middle Tennessee one of the best places to live, work, and play,” Tom O’Connor, market executive at Synovus, told Invest:.Â
Nashville also ranked No. 7 out of 55 large U.S. metro areas in a separate 2025 study by ADP and the Burning Glass Institute that analyzed affordability-adjusted wages, local hiring rates, and cost of living for young graduates. The report, which focused on Americans ages 20 to 29 entering the workforce, placed Nashville above Phoenix, Orlando, and Denver — with an affordability-adjusted annual wage of $53,771 and a local hiring rate of 2.6%.Â
According to the same report, while cities like New York and Seattle offer higher median wages, their lower hiring rates and higher costs of living make them less competitive for recent graduates.
With low unemployment, diversified job opportunities, and a rising income base, the performance of Nashville and the larger region reflects more than just current conditions. It signals where the city is headed.
As Bates put it, “If we didn’t have a city that people wanted to move to, we wouldn’t be experiencing this level of success.”
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