Memphis’s manufacturing base is substantial, spanning a wide variety of products – from non-durable goods such as food and beverage and paper products to more precision based surgical and medical instruments and automotive component manufacturing. With a strong workforce presence found throughout the region, companies with operations in Greater Memphis can connect to the U.S. and the world with exceptional air, road, rail, and port infrastructure.
Production Workers
(2019)
Graduates Annually
Mfg. Related Programs
United States Population
Within a 2-day Drive
The Memphis regional market is centrally located in the United States and offers superior operational value and flexibility. With an integrated transportation system of road infrastructure, rail mainlines, river ports, and the 2nd busiest cargo airport in the world, over 27,000 companies have operations in Memphis, including over 400 trucking companies.
With internationally recognized brands leveraging the Memphis value proposition for distribution and logistics functions, the Memphis market serves as America’s Distribution Hub – ensuring reliable and cost-effective solutions to grow bottom line revenues and improve supply chain management systems.
In the Greater Memphis metro area, manufacturing industries hold significant regional presence. Shown in the table below, industries with the largest regional presence are highlighted. Measured by industry employment, the top 10 manufacturing industries displayed account for nearly 50% of total manufacturing employment within the region. Pairing the strong critical mass of industry-specific skills with robust historical and projected growth fuel our region’s specialization in the ability to manufacture and take products to market.
| Industry Description | 2015 Jobs | 2019 Jobs | 2023 Jobs | Job Growth 2015 to 2019 (%) | Projected Job Growth (%) 2019 to 2023 | 2019 Location Quotient |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies | 6,448 | 6,824 | 7,445 | 5.84% | 9.10% | 5.01 |
| Architectural and Structural Metals | 2,352 | 2,917 | 3,190 | 24.03% | 9.36% | 1.75 |
| HVAC and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment | 2,058 | 2,349 | 2,342 | 14.14% | -0.31% | 4.08 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts | 1,043 | 1,428 | 1,656 | 36.84% | 15.98% | 0.56 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,490 | 1,415 | 1,403 | -5.05% | -0.88% | 5.47 |
| Other General Purpose Machinery | 1,124 | 1,408 | 1,536 | 25.27% | 9.11% | 1.21 |
| Plastics Product | 1,394 | 1,384 | 1,328 | -0.73% | -4.00% | 0.55 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment | 1,270 | 1,294 | 1,369 | 1.92% | 5.78% | 3.08 |
| Basic Chemicals | 1,124 | 1,255 | 1,259 | 11.67% | 0.35% | 1.96 |
| Dairy Products | 1,006 | 1,010 | 1,030 | 0.45% | 1.96% | 1.58 |
| Top 10 Industry Total | 19,307 | 21,283 | 22,557 | 10.23% | 5.99% | |
| Greater Memphis MSA Total | 45,059 | 43,537 | 45,818 | -1.2% | 2.9% |
As America’s hub for distribution and logistics activity, there exists a strength within the Memphis MSA labor force that is unmatched by its nearest metropolitan peers. This workforce is complemented by the area’s central location and highly developed intermodal infrastructure. Shown in the table below, primary production occupations are displayed. With over 24,000 employed in the top ten, our region’s workforce has the skills, availability, and drive at a competitive cost.
| Occupation Description | 2019 Jobs | Median Annual Earnings | Avg. Hourly Earnings | 2019 Location Quotient |
| Assemblers and Fabricators, Including Team Assemblers | 6,137 | $27,477 | $14.22 | 1.08 |
| Helpers–Production Workers | 3,340 | $23,422 | $12.35 | 2.21 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 2,683 | $29,169 | $14.93 | 1.58 |
| Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 2,633 | $55,653 | $28.78 | 0.99 |
| Production Workers, All Other | 2,369 | $24,430 | $13.29 | 2.32 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 2,052 | $34,116 | $18.19 | 0.87 |
| Food Batchmakers | 1,368 | $35,909 | $18.03 | 1.96 |
| Machinists | 1,334 | $43,503 | $21.95 | 0.81 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 1,331 | $42,719 | $21.35 | 0.80 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 597 | $25,489 | $13.07 | 1.00 |
| Top Manufacturing Occupations Total | 24,342 | |||
| Production Occupations Regional Total | 39,400 |
Greater Memphis Chamber | 22 North Front Street Suite 200 | Memphis, TN 38103-2100 | 901-543-3500
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