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    • Top 12 employers in the Knoxville area, from Dollywood to nuclear weapons
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    Top 12 employers in the Knoxville area, from Dollywood to nuclear weapons

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    The workforce in the 11-county Knoxville region is about 450,000 people, with about 256,000 workers in Knox County alone, according to the data. recent data from the Knoxville Chamber.

    From early 2024 to early 2025, the Knoxville Chamber expects the region to expand by 4,735 jobsor 1.1%. This roughly corresponds to Knox County’s annual population growth rate, which is second highest in Tennessee.

    Health care is the fastest growing sector in the Knoxville region, and the most in-demand job is nursing with 693 active postings.

    The latest major employer data from the Knoxville Chamber shows a diverse group of the largest businesses. The Chamber includes 11 counties in the region for major employer data: Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier and Union.

    Some companies are based in Knoxville such as Pilot and the Tennessee Valley Authoritythey have a large enough workforce to make the list. But because most of their employees are outside the region, they don’t make any discounts.

    Here are the 12 largest employers in the region for 2023-2024. Did your company make the list?

    12. State of Tennessee

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 3,811

    Last year’s position: no. 12

    Change in the number of employees: 698 employees were added

    The state of Tennessee may be headquartered in the capital of Nashville, but between economic development, highway patrol, planning and transportation professionals, state government has a strong presence in the Knoxville region.

    11. Food City

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 4,023

    Last year’s position: no. 10

    Change in the number of employees: It lost 279 employees

    Food City, owned under the corporate name K-VA-T Food Stores, is a fast-growing grocery store chain in the region. Headquartered in Abingdon, Va., near the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the company operates 130 Food City stores and several others.

    The company signed a $20 million, 10-year naming rights deal with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for Thompson-Boling Arena in 2023. The basketball and concert venue is now called Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

    10. Dollywood

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 4,500

    Last year’s position: no. 9

    Change in the number of employees: No change

    This beloved entertainment company, half owned by Dolly Parton herselfincludes Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country in Pigeon Forge. The theme park has collected industry awards for the past two years, placing it above even Disney World in the eyes of experts.

    9. Roark Capital Group

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 4,608

    Last year’s position: no. 11

    Change in the number of employees: 735 employees were added

    This $37 billion Atlanta-based private equity firm it’s a name you’ve probably never heard. But you know the names of the brands it invests in: Arby’s, Auntie Anne’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’ Donuts, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Sonic and Subway, to name a few.

    8. DENSE

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 5,000

    Last year’s position: no. 8

    Change in the number of employees: No change

    This Japanese auto parts giant produces components for almost every make and model of vehicle on the road. Since 1988, when it set up shop in Maryville, the company has been manufacturing electrical and safety components in the region. Just announced a $100 million expansion in Athens, although McMinn County is outside the Knoxville region.

    7. Clayton

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 5,047

    Last year’s position: no. 7

    Change in the number of employees: No change

    Clayton, commonly referred to as Clayton Homes, is a Maryville-based company that includes a major manufactured home division as well as 21st Mortgage Corp. and Vanderbilt Mortgage. Since 2003, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway.

    6. UT Medical Center

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 5,387

    Last year’s position: no. 6

    Change in the number of employees: No change

    UT Medical Center, owned and operated by the nonprofit University Health Systems, is the region’s academic medical center and its largest hospital. It has expanded its presence in the rural areas of the region with medical clinics that provide world-class healthcarein some cases free.

    5. Walmart

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 6,614

    Last year’s position: no. 5

    Change in the number of employees: It lost 249 employees

    Walmart may be the largest employer in the world, but it’s also among the top five largest employers in the Knoxville region, with 6,234 employees at Walmart stores and 380 at Sam’s Club locations.

    4. Knox County Schools

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 10,118

    Last year’s position: no. 3

    Change in the number of employees: 71 employees were added

    Knox County Schools’ massive workforce serves more than 60,000 students at four preschools, 52 elementary schools, 17 middle schools and 17 high schools. The district has focused in recent years on improving student safety and integrating new technologies into the classroom, including AI tools.

    3. University of Tennessee at Knoxville

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 11,197

    Last year’s position: no. 4

    Change in the number of employees: 1,898 employees were added

    The University of Tennessee at Knoxville moved up a spot on the list after adding a staggering 1,898 employees in the region in just one year. The flagship campus set a record 38,728 students this year, and the university system in the state is ready to do it to exceed its 2030 enrollment targets.

    This figure includes 3,437 temporary employees, but does not include student employees. If the data included the 9,687 student employees reported by UT, it would easily be the region’s largest employer.

    2. Health of the Covenant

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 11,963

    Last year’s position: no. 2

    Change in the number of employees: 50 employees were added

    Covenant Health operates approximately 180 hospitals and clinics in East Tennessee, with the largest at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center. The company has secured the naming rights for the new Old City baseball stadium, which will open in 2025 as Covenant Health Park.

    1. US Department of Energy

    Total employees in the Knoxville area: 16,975

    Last year’s position: no. 1

    Change in the number of employees: 800 employees were added

    The Department of Energy still owns most of Oak Ridge, the first city planned for The Manhattan Projectbut calling it the largest employer in the region is complicated. Only a few hundred people in Oak Ridge are directly employed by the DOE. The rest are employed through federal government contractors.

    UT-Battelle, the nonprofit corporation that operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has approximately 6,000 employees. Consolidated Nuclear Security, the federal contractor from Y-12 National Security Complexhas approximately 8,600 employees. Like Y-12 nuclear mission increasesso is the workforce.

    The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, along with cleanup contractor United Cleanup Oak Ridge, or UCOR, has 2,375 employees.

    Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. E-mail [email protected].

    Support strong local journalism by subscribing to knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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