Tennessee’s economic boom masks a growing crisis: Why millions of workers are struggling despite rising GDP and job growth

Tennessee’s economic growth masks a widening gap between prosperity and household well-being, reveals ThinkTennessee’s Thriving State, Strained Households brief. While the state ranks high in GDP and employment, many workers in essential sectors earn far below a living wage. Rising costs, uneven county-level growth, low labor participation, and inadequate policy safeguards leave families struggling despite overall economic gains.