Franklin’s job market maintained its positive momentum in December 2023, adding jobs at a steady pace despite signs of a broader national slowdown. The unemployment rate dipped to a record low, highlighting the city’s resilience and attractiveness for businesses and talent.
Highlights:
- Nonfarm payroll employment: Increased by 1,100 jobs, marking a 0.9% rise from November 2023.
- Unemployment rate: Declined to 2.5%, the lowest level since data began being tracked in 1990.
- Labor force participation: Remained stable at 62.2%.
- Average annual wage: Grew by 4.5% compared to December 2022.
What Industries and Occupations Grew:
- Professional and business services: Added 350 jobs, driven by gains in management, consulting, and accounting positions.
- Leisure and hospitality: Increased by 280 jobs, fueled by hiring in restaurants and hotels.
- Healthcare: Gained 200 jobs, with growth concentrated in nursing and administrative roles.
- Fastest-growing occupations: Registered nurses, physician assistants, software developers, financial analysts, and marketing specialists.
What Industries and Occupations Shrank:
- Manufacturing: Lost 50 jobs, primarily in the food processing and machinery sectors.
- Retail trade: Declined by 30 jobs, reflecting ongoing challenges in the brick-and-mortar sector.
- Construction: Remained flat after several months of modest growth.
- Declining occupations: Retail salespersons, cashiers, truck drivers, construction laborers, and administrative assistants.
Compare to Same Month Last Year:
- Franklin’s job growth continues to outpace the national average, which stood at 0.4% in December 2023.
- The city’s unemployment rate is significantly lower than the national rate of 3.9%.
- Wage growth in Franklin is slightly above the national average of 4.1%.
Compare to Previous Month:
- The December job gain represents a slight acceleration from the 0.7% growth recorded in November 2023.
- The unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month.
- Wage growth remained steady compared to November 2023.
Future Outlook:
- While national economic headwinds persist, Franklin’s strong fundamentals and diverse economy suggest continued job growth in the near term.
- Key sectors like healthcare, professional services, and technology are expected to remain प्रमुख job creators.
- The city’s focus on attracting new businesses and fostering entrepreneurship is likely to support future job expansion.
10 Growing Occupations:
- Registered Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Software Developers
- Financial Analysts
- Marketing Specialists
- Construction Managers
- Human Resources Specialists
- Accountants and Auditors
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
10 Companies Hiring Now:
- Williamson Medical Center
- Nissan North America
- Tractor Supply Company
- Franklin Synergy Bank
- Asurion
- Amazon
- Deloitte
- EY
- PwC
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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