White Co. Searching For High-Wage Jobs

White County’s focus will change from searching for jobs to searching for high-wage jobs.

Commissioners asked County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson about the county’s workforce at the group’s last meeting.

“We have a workforce, if we can get the rates up, the pay rates up, people won’t have to leave town to make a decent living and that’ll also help,” Robinson said.

Robinson said they’re focusing on job training as well. At this point, bringing more jobs to White County isn’t the priority.

“When you start getting down below four percent unemployment rate, which is where we’re at, basically anyone who wants a job has got a job, if anyone tells you they can’t find a job, they’re not trying because they’re out there,” Robinson said.

Robinson said some employers have told him they’re not sure about moving to Tennessee because they’re concerned about the state’s opioid problem. He said county officials are working with the state to find and implement a solution.