The first thing that comes to mind when the city of Nashville is mentioned is music. A vision of guitar pickers and streets filled with cowboys driving pickup trucks is a common image and that might have described Nashville forty years ago, but the city has evolved into a modern metropolitan area that has been named one of the 50 smartest places to live in the nation. Nashville employment figures continue to show an increase in job availability in several different industries. Although the music business gets a lot of attention, especially when it comes to advertising and marketing, the printing and healthcare industries continue to fuel the Nashville employment market with high paying jobs and excellent working conditions.
Nashville Job Opportunities
Nashville’s economy doesn’t rely on just one industry. The city is diverse in terms of private and public industries, so there is opportunity in virtually every area of the city. Nashville has been ranked 8th by Moody’s Investor Service for being one of the most diversified economies in the nation and Forbes ranked Nashville the 25th best cities to find careers in business and other endeavors. Nashville has been called the nation’s health care center because there are twenty-one healthcare companies based in Nashville and 350 healthcare companies have operations in the city. There are over 100,000 people working in the healthcare industry in Nashville and the healthcare payroll is more than $4 billion a year. Just the healthcare industry alone accounts for a high percentage of Nashville’s employment opportunities.
Another industry that contributes to high Nashville employment opportunities is the publishing industry. Nashville is considered one of the top ten publishing centers in the country and it’s the largest in the Southeast. Thomas Nelson is considered one of the top religious publishing houses in the nation and the city is becoming a major distribution center for printed media. The music industry is a major contributor to Nashville employment opportunities. There are over 200 recording studios. All of the major record labels have offices on Music Row. Promotional firms, booking agencies, music publishing companies, trade publications and performance rights associations, as well as local music advertising firms generate a large income for the city and continue to keep the Nashville employment market fresh with new job opportunities. Music video production companies, as well as TV and film industry production houses are moving into the city and they are contributing to Nashville employment increases. Tourism is also increasing every year and the jobs created by tourist activity have made an impact on Nashville employment opportunities as well.
Nashville Employment Agencies and Resources
Nashville employment opportunities got the attention of national employment agencies that specialize in specific industries and they establish offices in the city. There are over 150 Nashville employment agencies and they are as diversified as the industries and the clients they represent. The top five employment agencies in the city include Adecco (www.adecco.com) which is the world’s largest employment agency. They provide permanent as well as temporary and project assistance staffing and have outsourcing services as well as other services. Kelly Services (www.kellyservices.com) focuses on light industrial, professional and technical jobs for both genders, which include accountants and engineers. Manpower Inc. (www.manpower.com) is the second largest provider of temporary services behind Adecco. They focus on professional and industrial positions. Spherion Corporation (www.spherion.com) concentrates on project management, network management, and quality assurance placement services. Kforce Inc. (www.kforce.com) is considered a corporate matchmaker who matches highly skilled professionals in healthcare, accounting, clinical research and information technology with local corporations. Other agencies who assist in placing people in positions in the Nashville employment market are Randstad (www.us.randstad.com), Vanderbilt Temporary Service (www.vanderbilt.edu), Arvie Personnel Services (www.arvie.com), Insurance Overload Systems (www.insuranceoverload.com) and Evinco Driver Service (www.evinco.com). There are too many to mention, but the amount of Nashville employment agencies is an indication of how active the job market is in the city.
Nashville Living Conditions
The advantages of living and working in Nashville are almost too good to be true. The city has a low cost of living, affordable housing, a diverse culture and easy-to-navigate neighborhoods. The recreational opportunities include two beautiful lakes, several rivers plus pristine parks and nature trails. Nashville experiences four distinct seasons, so all outdoor sports can be appreciated. It is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities with a modern and trendy airport with flights to all the major cities around the country. The average apartment rental in Nashville is around $700 per month and the average home price is $146,000. The city is the home of the Tennessee Titans and the Bonnaroo Music Festival is held every June in Manchester Tennessee, which is about an hour from the city. The restaurant scene is one of the best in the country. Caribbean to kosher along with good ole down home cooking can be found all over the city. Some of the finest dining establishments in the South call Nashville home and the famous Opryland Hotel attracts tourists from all over the world.
Nashville school system is constantly being updated and improved and the city is home for several private schools that are known nationally for their scholastic and sport programs. Nashville is also known as the “Athens of the South,” because an exact replica of the Parthenon is located in Centennial Park, which is right across the street from Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt is just one of ten or more universities located in and around the city. The transportation system and the utility services are continually being examined and expanded to meet the needs of the growing population. The political system is changing because the city is growing so quickly. Nashville is stepping out and becoming a leader, rather than a city that follows other systems. The city is concerned with environmental issues and economic reform not just in the metropolitan area, but across the nation, as well as the world.
Nashville Employment Conclusion
If rolling hills, clean rivers and lakes and excellent real estate values are important, then Nashville is the place to be. It has always been known as a “diamond in the rough,” but the city is shinning like a true gem now. Nashville is filled with all the ingredients that make life a truly unique experience.
