Employment growth is slowing in Rutherford County but still remains among the highest in the state and nation, based on recently released statistics.
Rutherford County saw a 3.3 percent employment growth rate between March 2006 and March 2007, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released this month. This percentage accounted for 3,840 jobs.
The 13-county Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin metropolitan statistical area, which makes up northern Middle Tennessee, saw 1.5 percent employment growth for the same period, based on data presented recently by Bill Fox, a University of Tennessee economist. The state's employment growth rate was at 1 percent, and the Chattanooga area recorded the largest growth rate at 2.6 percent.
Holly Sears, director of economic development at the Rutherford County of Commerce, said other Middle Tennessee counties that aren't growing and are seeing rising unemployment skews Rutherford County's growth numbers.
"We have 19 projects currently in the pipeline that are considering relocating to Rutherford County," Sears said.
Already this year, five company relocations and expansions have been announced through the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, she said. These projects will create several hundred new jobs in the county.
Recent announcements of plant relocations to Rutherford County from other parts of Middle Tennessee include Wearall, Huskey Truss & Building Supply, Irby, Adenus Technologies and Alorica.
Huskey Building & Truss is preparing to construct its roof truss and wall panel plant on Rutherford Boulevard, moving its operations from Franklin.
Huskey Truss & Building Supply is investing $11.3 million in Rutherford County with the construction of the factory and purchase of the 22-acre site, said Neil Gossman, Huskey's chief financial officer.
Huskey plans to hire 24 new employees before the facility opens adjacent to Southern Container and hire another 15 employees shortly after it opens. Wages will range between $8.50 and $16 an hour.
Rutherford County recently lost a proposed Starbucks roasting facility plant to South Carolina. The international company was considering a site on Joe B. Jackson Parkway. The Seattle-based company would have created at least 160 jobs paying at least $21 an hour.
"Sometimes you lose projects that are completely out of your control," Sears said, adding that being a finalist for such a top-tier company is significant and will bring Rutherford County more attention.
Sears said the U.S. Census ranks Rutherford County No. 37 in the country for job growth even as local growth slows.
"That is still very healthy job growth being ranked in the Top 50 in the United States," she said.
Bill Jones, chairman of Destination Rutherford, the county's job creation initiative, said he isn't concerned with job growth numbers.
The first phase of Destination Rutherford netted 9,279 primary jobs with direct earnings of $455 million. Phase II of Destination Rutherford is projected to create at least 4,000 new jobs during the next four years.
"I am not at all concerned that we have adequate job growth," he said "I am more concerned with quality job growth.
Jones, area executive for Pinnacle Financial Partners, said Rutherford County ranked No. 13 in growth in average weekly wages in the nation, with a 6 percent jump from third quarter of 2005 to third quarter 2006.
Between 2003 and 2006, company expansions and relocations were "out of the ballpark," Sears said. A contributing factor to this was the amount of new speculative buildings coming online in industrial parks in Smyrna and La Vergne.
But that type of job isn't sustainable for long, experts say.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data states for the year ending March 2006, Rutherford County saw a 5.9 percent job growth rate.
"As we create these jobs, our goal is to create higher wage and higher quality jobs," Sears said. Rutherford County is specifically looking to attract jobs in advanced manufacturing, pharmacy, health care and aviation.
"We are still seeing projects coming through the pipeline but we are not seeing as many projects coming through the pipeline," Sears said. That is partially due to the current shortage of industrial space.
"We are looking for industrial property," she said. Speculative warehouse, distribution and light manufacturing space is under construction on Joe B. Jackson Parkway.
Rutherford County continues to have an available, skilled workforce, Sears said. MTSU graduates 4,000 students a year and 30,000 residents commute outside of the county to work.
The county's unemployment rate remains low, currently at 3.9 percent, which creates a competitive market.
Nissan's recent announcement that 681 workers at its Smyrna manufacturing plant were taking a voluntary separation package could put more workers out in the workforce. Those workers must leave their jobs by June 30.
"There is going to be an opportunity for companies to attract those skilled workers," Sears said.
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.
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