For more than a decade, our agency has been updating a commuter workflow map with data from the United States Census Bureau.

This map shows the workforce and commuting patterns in a nine-county region comprised of Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Union Counties.  

There are 475,000 reported jobs in the commuter region, and more than half of those are in Knox County. Current data demonstrate that there are about 246,500 jobs in Knox County, while there are only 206,100 reported workers living here. The Census Bureau reports that 131,800 Knox County residents remain in the county during the workday, while 74,400 commute to another county for work. In addition to those who both live and work here, Knox County gains around 60,000 workers from surrounding counties during the workday.

Anderson and Blount Counties draw the highest number of workers from Knox County. In Anderson County, that can be credited to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex, while DENSO Manufacturing brings in the highest number for Blount County. Other employment hubs include Downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, and several general hospitals across the region. 

Most employees working in the City of Knoxville and the Town of Farragut are commuting in from outside of city limits or county lines. Almost 20 percent of the Knoxville population both live and work within the city while 64 percent commute to the city for work and live elsewhere. Very few Farragut residents both live and work within the town. Residents tend to travel outside the town limits for work, and less than 4 percent of people who work in Farragut are also residents.

Our agency incorporates the commuter workflow map in various publications, including the Facts and Figures report. The map is also referenced in the Mobility Plan, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s long-range transportation plan that is updated every four years. Whether it is part of a larger report or a standalone product, this map helps provide insight to employment trends, travel patterns, and congestion in our region.