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Memphis offers a diverse, metropolitan workforce at
wage rates that are lower than most other parts of the
country. The region is home to a host of world-class
higher education institutions, the largest community
college in Tennessee, a number of public and private
vocational and technical training facilities and a long
list of quality public and private school systems. Over
the past three decades, the presence of companies like
FedEx and the region’s superior distribution infrastructure
have earned Memphis the title, “America’s
Distribution Center.” During the same period the
region’s workforce has a higher percentage of
logistics workers than any other metropolitan area in
the country.
Did you know:
- Tennessee is a right to work state.
- The median age of the Memphis workforce is 35.
- Memphis has a large concentration of corporate offices,
logistics and life science employees.
- Memphis offers exceptional universities, community colleges and vocational/technical schools with tailored programs for industry.
Depth
+ Breadth
Not only does Memphis draw from a three-state labor pool, employment ranges across the spectrum of industries. Employment is relatively balanced among industries giving the Memphis workforce breadth in both skills and experience.
- Civilian Labor Force - 616,820
- Total Employment - 575,820
- Unemployed - 34,590
- Unemployment Rate - 5.6%
Abundant Workforce Training
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Productivity
| metro comparison of worker productivity |
| metro |
2002 productivity per employee |
| Memphis |
$73,063 |
| Indianapolis |
$71,854 |
| Louisville |
$64,966 |
| Pittsburgh |
$68,590 |
| Richmond |
$68,319 |
| San Antonio |
$62,986 |
| St. Louis |
$72,218 |
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Find
Out More
Real-time Workforce Information
The Memphis Regional Chamber recently conducted a regional workforce analysis designed to assist businesses finding the qualified workers they need. This exhaustive study included interviews with 3,600 workers, 365 employer surveys, interviews with 65 key workforce influencers and five focus groups with community representatives.
The data delivery system allows users to develop custom reports from the wealth of data that has been collected through the workforce analysis process. Reports can be developed for sub-sets of counties within the region and for individual counties. The data is GIS based-allowing the user to create custom labor profiles within a radius of a specific site or employer.
Click here to use the labor data tool.
Memphis Workforce Assets
Huge Hidden Potential Workforce
- Underemployed 188,795
- Not Employed, Wanting Work 328,795
- Recent College Graduates 14,500
- Total Hidden Labor Supply 532,090
Large Percentage of Employed & Unemployed are Interested in Training
- 58.9% Want to Upgrade Skills – 799,510
- Leading Fields of Interest among Workforce are computer- and medical-related
Regional Population Younger than National Average
Employers Report:
- Satisfactory Work Ethic and Productivity
- Good Availability of Unskilled and Semi-Skilled Workers
- Region Perceived as a Low Wage Location
- Belief that Region Can Support Higher Skilled Emerging Industries
Excellent Foundation for Economic Expansion
- Higher Number of Post-secondary Institutions than Comparable Southeastern Regions
- Good Corporate Presence and Base
- Fed Ex Hub and Other Excellent Transportation Assets
- Existing Industry Clusters
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By
the Numbers
| employment by occupation 2005-2006 |
| occupation |
2005 |
2006 |
%
change |
| Manufacturing |
54,100 |
54,600 |
0.9 |
| Construction |
26,100 |
27,600 |
5.7 |
| Wholesale Trade |
37,400 |
37,800 |
1.1 |
| Retail Trade |
71,300 |
72,700 |
2.0 |
| Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities |
63,500 |
64,200 |
1.1 |
| Information |
7,900 |
7,500 |
(5.1) |
| Financial Services |
32,900 |
32,900 |
0.0 |
| Professional & Business Services |
78,400 |
81,400 |
3.8 |
| Educational & Health Services |
73,900 |
75,500 |
2.2 |
| Leisure & Hospitality |
67,900 |
71,100 |
4.7 |
| Other Services |
24,600 |
24,500 |
(0.4) |
| Government |
88,800 |
87,800 |
(1.1) |
| Memphis area production wages |
| job title |
low |
average |
high |
Assembler,
Production |
$11.74 |
$12.70 |
$14.46 |
| Crew Leader, Production |
18.52 |
20.05 |
22.31 |
| Machine Operator A |
13.44 |
14.01 |
14.56 |
| Machinist, Maintenance |
16.30 |
17.73 |
19.99 |
| Manufacturing Clerk |
17.83 |
18.05 |
18.64 |
| Manufacturing Associate A (skilled) |
13.54 |
14.59 |
14.84 |
| Manufacturing Associate B (unskilled) |
11.11 |
13.15 |
14.42 |
| Chemical Process Operator A |
19.59 |
20.97 |
22.77 |
| Production Packager |
11.33 |
12.15 |
13.54 |
| Quality Control Technician |
15.85 |
16.31 |
16.49 |
| Welder, Production |
15.55 |
16.86 |
18.17 |
| Truck Driver - In Town |
13.12 |
15.61 |
19.46 |
| Plant Engineer |
68,668 |
70,220 |
71,730 |
| Production Control Analyst |
40,719 |
42,363 |
44,221 |
| Controller |
90,891 |
91,982 |
92,106 |
| Production Supervisor |
46,402 |
50,800 |
56,879 |
| Plant Manager |
93,639 |
95,194 |
96,748 |
| memphis area distribution wages (hourly) |
| title |
low |
average |
high |
| Equipment Operator (Fork Lift) |
$12.22 |
$13.10 |
$13.84 |
| Inventory Control Clerk |
15.15 |
16.15 |
17.29 |
| Machine Operator, Distribution |
13.26 |
13.40 |
13.68 |
| Packer |
9.94 |
11.27 |
12.89 |
| Picker |
10.65 |
12.09 |
13.15 |
| Receiver |
12.12 |
12.77 |
13.20 |
| Receiving Clerk |
13.16 |
13.41 |
13.71 |
| Returns Clerk |
11.86 |
12.41 |
13.00 |
| Shipper |
12.35 |
13.18 |
14.56 |
| Shipping Clerk |
14.45 |
14.71 |
14.94 |
| Traffic Clerk |
16.03 |
16.11 |
16.15 |
| Warehouse Person |
12.72 |
13.49 |
14.30 |
| Traffic Supervisor |
52,115 |
54,960 |
57,804 |
| Warehouse Supervisor |
42,313 |
46,812 |
53,423 |
| Warehouse Manager |
69,963 |
72,082 |
74,197 |
| memphis Area office wages |
| job Title |
low |
average |
high |
| Accountant |
$40,768 |
$42,123 |
$43,556 |
| Administrative Assistant |
35,325 |
37,961 |
40,763 |
| Accounting Clerk |
29,685 |
30,607 |
32,001 |
| General Clerk |
25,174 |
26,545 |
27,617 |
| Data Processing Operator |
35,587 |
37,515 |
38,620 |
| Human Resources Clerk |
30,081 |
30,698 |
31,436 |
| Payroll Clerk |
31,348 |
32,196 |
32,817 |
| Receptionist |
22,422 |
22,739 |
22,947 |
| Secretary I |
29,588 |
31,418 |
32,344 |
| Secretary II |
30,763 |
32,443 |
34,226 |
| Secretary III (Executive) |
33,940 |
35,354 |
36,309 |
| Human Resources Manager |
69,338 |
69,973 |
70,338 |
| Data Processing Manager |
101,578 |
101,578 |
101,578 |
| Programmer |
58,352 |
69,611 |
78,962 |
| Systems Analyst |
74,547 |
82,561 |
87,647 |
| memphis Area call center wages |
| job Title |
low |
average |
high |
| Call Center Representative I |
$27,748 |
$31,430 |
$36,845 |
| Call Center Representative II |
30,231 |
32,962 |
35,888 |
| Customer Service/Call Center Supervisor |
45,407 |
46,067 |
46,727 |
| Memphis area Lifescience wages |
| job Title |
low |
average |
high |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists |
$21.45 |
$44.86 |
$56.56 |
| Chemists |
17.35 |
20.88 |
26.05 |
| Biological Technicians |
11.94 |
14.98 |
16.50 |
| Chemical Technicians |
30.18 |
43.71 |
47.67 |
| Pharmacists |
8.54 |
12.58 |
14.60 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologists |
17.29 |
22.51 |
25.13 |
| Pharmacy Technicians |
9.71 |
13.57 |
15.51 |
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Speed to Market
