State of Tennessee Archives: on Jobs
Bill Haslam:
Created 80,000 jobs by making TN a good place for capital
Since January 2011, nearly 80,000 new jobs have been created in Tennessee, and the unemployment rate is the lowest it's been since October 2008. Tennessee ranks first in the Southeast in new manufacturing jobs created and first in the growth of
manufacturing jobs in 2012. That's good news, but it doesn't mean we can take our foot off of the gas. You've heard me say many times before that I don't believe government creates jobs, but I do believe it's our role to create an environment that
encourages investment. Jobs are created when people are willing to risk capital. We want Tennessee to be as low of a risk as possible. To provide certainty to businesses, we overhauled our tort laws. To build on those efforts, this year we're proposing
legislation to reform our worker's compensation laws. During my first year in office, I held business roundtables across the state where we heard from businesses over and over that worker's comp is an issue in Tennessee.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Tennessee legislature
Jan 28, 2013
Bill Lee:
Helped faith communities connect people with job services
Another key part of our efforts to support children and families is within the Governor's Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. Among other successes in the last year,
the Faith-Based Office played an important role in engaging our local faith communities to help connect people with employment services.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 8, 2021
Jason Martin:
Oppose "right to work" amendment to state constitution
Organized labor is vital to protecting our workers. Organized labor has created benefits for all of us, including safe work environments, reasonable work expectations, and pay commensurate with the work that we do. We need to make sure that
Tennessee is a place that values workers, while also being attractive to all companies. As governor, I will oppose the "right to work" amendment to the state constitution.
Source: 2022 Tennessee Governor campaign website MartinForTN.com
Aug 7, 2022
JB Smiley:
On choice of jobs or higher wages, I'm going to choose jobs
Councilman JB Smiley Jr.--who recently announced his campaign to be the Democratic challenger to Gov. Bill Lee--said he was inclined to trust the EDGE and chamber leaders, just like he trusted doctors on whether or not to implement a mask mandate. "All
of the experts tell us, if we do this, we'll lose jobs," Smiley said. "If we have to choose between jobs and higher wages, I'm going to choose jobs."
Source: MLK50 blog on 2022 Tennessee Gubernatorial race
Oct 7, 2021
Marsha Blackburn:
Minimum wage is a federal mandate; let competition decide
Q: Raise the federal minimum wage?Marsha Blackburn (R): No. "A growing and competitive economy -- not Washington mandates -- will create an environment where companies compete.through better wages."
Phil Bredesen (D):
Yes. Should at least keep pace with inflation. "Federal level is far more effective, as it avoids driving jobs from one community or state to another."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Phil Bredesen:
Minimum wage should keep pace with inflation
Q: Raise the federal minimum wage?Marsha Blackburn (R): No. "A growing and competitive economy -- not Washington mandates -- will create an environment where companies compete.through better wages."
Phil Bredesen (D):
Yes. Should at least keep pace with inflation. "Federal level is far more effective, as it avoids driving jobs from one community or state to another."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Tennessee Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Bill Lee:
Tennessee Works Scholarship covers tuition, tools, equipment
We have worked hard to connect these young Tennesseans to the workforce by clearing TCAT waiting lists and expanding vocational, technical, and agricultural education in all 95 counties.We know that a lot of these courses require expensive books,
tools, and equipment. I am proposing the Tennessee Works Scholarship--a new award that will cover every penny of TCAT tuition and fees for all students and will finally relieve the extra cost burden of tools and equipment for those most in-need.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 10, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026