Jobs/Unemployment
Kingsport has led the Tri-Cites area with the highest unemployment rate of 11.8 percent for January, 2010. For well over a year, Kingsport has been running a higher unemployment rate which cannot be blamed solely on Eastman.
It is important to note that this 11.8 percent unemployment rate for Kingsport is not a true indicator of the actual unemployment rate. The rate does not reflect those who have given up trying to find a job or those who work as a contractor.
The sad news is that as these unemployed folks look for employment to support their families, they may be forced to move out of Kingsport to take jobs elsewhere.
![UnemploymentJan10table[1]](http://www.nowhitewash.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/UnemploymentJan10table1.png "UnemploymentJan10table[1]")
![UneploymentJan10graph[3]](http://www.nowhitewash.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/UneploymentJan10graph3.png "UneploymentJan10graph[3]")
Household Median Income for Tennessee Counties
Below is the household median income for the top 20 Tennessee Counties that had the largest retail sales. The household median income is for the county and may be different for cities within the county. Below is the household median Income for Sullivan County cities
Kingsport $34,391 – Individuals below poverty level 18.0%
Bristol $36,454 – Individuals below poverty level 14.6%
Sullivan County – Individuals below poverty level 15.8%
| County | Rank | Household Median Income |
| Williamson | 1 | $84,205 |
| Wilson | 2 | $60,503 |
| Sumner | 3 | $52,970 |
| Rutherford | 4 | $50,623 |
| Montgomery | 5 | $49,248 |
| Blount | 6 | $46,009 |
| Knox | 7 | $45,309 |
| Maury | 8 | $44,990 |
| Davidson | 9 | $44,486 |
| Hamilton | 10 | $44,384 |
| Shelby | 11 | $43,512 |
| Anderson | 12 | $41,346 |
| Bradley | 13 | $39,761 |
| Madison | 14 | $39,721 |
| Sevier | 15 | $39,534 |
| Washington | 16 | $39,238 |
| Hamblen | 17 | $37,661 |
| Sullivan | 18 | $37,559 |
| Coffee | 19 | $37,076 |
| Putnam | 20 | $34,923 |
Below is the household income distribution for Kingsport and the household median income for Kingsport is $34,391. In the graph below there are 2,636 people who are living in poverty.
| The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia | |
| Persons in family | Poverty guideline |
| 1 | $10,830 |
| 2 | $14,570 |
| 3 | $18,310 |
| 4 | $22,050 |
| 5 | $25,790 |
| 6 | $29,530 |
| 7 | $33,270 |
| 8 | $37,010 |
| For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person. | |
Sullivan County Average Annual Wage by Major Industry
Below is a 2007 Average Annual Wage by Major Industry comparison for Sullivan County and Tennessee. The graph below is from the State of Tennessee and shows the average wages if you were employed. The unemployment rate for June 2009 was 12.7 percent for Kingsport
Median household income (in 2007 inflation-adjusted dollars)
- Kingsport $34,391
- Bristol $36,374
- Sullivan County $37,559
- Tennessee $41,821
