Population: 6,600,000
2016 job growth: 2.8 percent
New jobs in 2016: 80,980
Unemployment rate by year-end 2016: 5.1 percent
Largest company in state: FedEx
Named "State of the Year" twice by Business Facilities magazine, Tennessee is home to several large companies with plans for expansion. The magazine noted Tennessee’s focus on education, infrastructure, and workforce training in order to support the state’s economy. Regal Entertainment is relocating its headquarters to the Volunteer State, and Bridgestone, General Motors, and Volkswagen are all expanding within the state. Ranked 19th on Forbes’ "Best States for Business” list, Tennessee ranks eighth in terms of projected job growth.
