Lawrence County offers prime opportunities for business and industrial growth. Located in the heart of the southeastern US automotive manufacturing circle, Lawrence County, TN is strong in five major sectors – Metalworking, Woodworking, Distribution and Logistics, Chemical, and Transportation Equipment. With major US highways both north/south and east/west, Interstate 65 only 13 miles east, rail, air, and maritime port access, our location is within one day transport to more than 50% of the US population.
The Lawrence County TN labor shed is comprised a six county area, with a total population of 283,305 (2016) with a 3.2% population growth between 2010 and 2016. Included in this population is a skilled labor pool with many growth areas and concentrations compared to the US average.
Metalworking Sector
Number of Metalworking Sector Companies in Our Labor Shed
- 19 Machine Shops
- 5 Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing
- 3 Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive)
- 2 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
- 2 Iron Foundries
- 2 Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
- 1 Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying
- 1 Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers
- 1 Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring
- 1 Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing
- 7 Plate Work Manufacturing
- 4 Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
- 3 All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
- 3 Burial Casket Manufacturing
- 2 Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum
- 2 Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
- 1 Iron and Steel Forging
- 1 Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing
- 1 Other Metal Container Manufacturing
- 1 Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing
- 1 Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
- 1 Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
Growth Occupations
- 173% Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 96% Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 89% Tool and Die Makers
- 75% Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 64% Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 49% Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
- 45% Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 38% Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic
- 33% Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
- 25% Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 127% Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 94% Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 77% Foundry Mold and Coremakers
- 67% Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 56% Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 49% Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 38% Machinists
- 26% Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 25% Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
Labor Shed vs. US
- 1000% more Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 334% more Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic higher than the national average.
- 292% more Foundry Mold and Coremakers than the national average.
- 285% more Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 229% more Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 218% more Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 61% more Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other than the national average.
- 58% more Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers than the national average.
- 39% higher Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 37% more Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 8% higher Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 587% more Model Makers, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 416% more Tool and Die Makers than the national average.
- 300% more Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders than the national average.
- 288% higher Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 242% more Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 84% more Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 71% more Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 58% more Pourers and Casters, Metal than the national average.
- 50% more Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners than the national average.
- 39% more Machinists than the national average.
- 33% more Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
- 29% more Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic than the national average.
Skilled Labor
- 410 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- 215 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 193 Tool and Die Makers
- 30 Plating and Coating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 25 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
- 24 Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other
- 20 Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- 381 Machinists
- 213 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 92 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 28 Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- 23 Foundry Mold and Coremakers
- 10 Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Distribution/Logistics Sector
Number of Distribution/Logistics Sector Companies in Our Labor Shed
- 48 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload
- 12 General Freight Trucking, Local
- 6 Freight Transportation Arrangement
- 5 Used Household and Office Goods Moving
- 2 Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance
- 1 All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
- 1 Navigational Services to Shipping
- 1 Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
- 1 Rail transportation
- 17 Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local
- 7 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload
- 5 General Warehousing and Storage
- 5 Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
- 2 Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems
- 1 Marine Cargo Handling
- 1 Packing and Crating
- 1 Other Warehousing and Storage
- 1 Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
Growth Occupations
- 29% Production Workers, All Other
- 25% Locomotive Engineers 18% increase in First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- 23% Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- 27% Logisticians
- 17% Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers 12% increase in First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Labor Shed vs. US
- 88% more Locomotive Engineers than the national average.
- 29% more Helpers--Production Workers than the national average.
- 24% more Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators than the national average.
- 22% more Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers than the national average.
- 8% more First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators than the national average.
- 58% more Production Workers, All Other than the national average.
- 27% more First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand than the national average.
- 11% more Packers and Packagers, Hand than the national average.
Skilled Labor
- 1,670 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- 569 Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers
- 437 Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- 154 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
- 56 Logisticians
- 1,507 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- 514 Packers and Packagers, Hand
- 353 Helpers--Production Workers
- 145 First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
- 55 Locomotive Engineers
Woodworking Sector
Number of Woodworking Sector Companies in Our Labor Shed
- 42 New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders)
- 28 Residential Remodelers
- 15 Finish Carpentry Contractors
- 10 Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing
- 8 All Other Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing
- 4 Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
- 1 Engineered Wood Member (except Truss) Manufacturing
- 1 Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
- 1 Sawmill, Woodworking, and Paper Machinery Manufacturing
- 1 Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing
- 38 Logging
- 20 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- 15 Sawmills
- 8 Industrial Building Construction
- 4 Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing 1 Wood Preservation
- 3 Other Millwork (including Flooring)
- 1 Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing
- 1 Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
- 1 Non-upholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturing
- 1 Office Furniture (except Wood) Manufacturing
Growth Occupations in Our Labor Shed
- 17% Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Labor Shed vs. US
- 473% more Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood than the national average.
- 236% more Model Makers, Wood than the national average.
- 195% more Patternmakers, Wood than the national average.
- 32% more Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other than the national average.
- 266% more Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing than the national average.
- 214% more Woodworkers, All Other than the national average.
- 41% more Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters than the national average.
- 29% more Helpers--Production Workers than the national average.
Skilled Labor
- 161 Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
- 2 Woodworkers, All Other
- 129 Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Chemical Sector
Number of Chemical Sector Companies in Our Labor Shed
- 3 Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
- 2 Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing
- 2 Adhesive Manufacturing
- 2 Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
- 1 Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
- 1 In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing
- 1 Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
- 1 Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing
- 2 Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing
- 2 Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
- 2 All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing 1 All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
- 1 Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing
- 1 Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
- 1 Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
Growth Occupations
- 36% Chemists
- 21% Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 18% Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- 31% Chemical Technicians
- 21% Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- 15% Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Labor Shed vs. US
- 108% more Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders than the national average.
- 10% more Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders than the national average.
- 18% more Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand than the national average.
Skilled Labor
- 79 Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 40 Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- 20 Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- 52 Equipment Operators and Tenders
- 21 Chemical Technicians
- 19 Chemists
Transportation Equipment Sector
Number of Transportation Equipment Sector Companies in Our Labor Shed
- 48 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload
- 12 General Freight Trucking, Local
- 6 Freight Transportation Arrangement
- 3 Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing
- 2 Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
- 2 Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing
- 1 Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
- 1 All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
- 1 Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
- 1 Support Activities for Rail Transportation
- 1 Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
- 17 Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local
- 7 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload
- 5 Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
- 2 Automobile Manufacturing
- 2 Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
- 2 Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance
- 2 Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems
- 1 Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- 1 Rail transportation
- 1 All Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
Growth Occupations
- 69% Engineers
- 25% Locomotive Engineers
- 17% Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- 25% Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
- 21% Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- 11% Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
Labor Shed vs. US
- 88% more Locomotive Engineers than the national average.
- 57% more Industrial Engineers than the national average.
- 35% more Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators than the national average.
- 59% Automotive Body and Related Repairers than the national average.
- 49% more Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers than the national average.
Skilled Labor
- 259 Industrial Engineers
- 55 Locomotive Engineers
- 169 Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- 20 Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
