Connecting employee benefits organizations with top-performing sales professionals is the focus of my work as an insurance recruiter in the Nashville market. I also provide executive search and headhunter services for service and leadership roles across group health and ancillary/voluntary benefits.
The Nashville metro area ranked second among the 100 largest U.S. metro areas for job growth and earning potential according to a 2025 Checkr study analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Total employment in the region surpassed 1.2 million by mid-2025 with unemployment hovering between 3.0% and 3.4%. Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in November 2025 according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Oxford Economics projects annual job growth of approximately 0.8% through 2026-2029.
The healthcare industry is Nashville’s largest employer with 167,916 direct jobs annually. More than 900 healthcare companies operate in Middle Tennessee and 16 publicly traded healthcare organizations are headquartered in the region. The healthcare sector contributes nearly $68 billion to the local economy and generates $97 billion in global revenue according to the Nashville Health Care Council.
Employer-sponsored health insurance costs in Tennessee are experiencing the steepest increases in 15 years. Benefits consultant Mercer reports health insurance cost per employee is projected to increase an average of nearly 9% in 2026 while Aon projects 9.5%. Small employer plans face estimated increases of 12% to 13% according to federal rate review filings. Tennessee state employee health insurance premiums for local government are increasing an average of 7.7% for 2026. Consumer-driven health plans paired with health savings accounts remain available across employer groups. Sales professionals in employee benefits work with employers seeking competitive group health and ancillary/voluntary benefits packages including dental, vision, life and disability coverage.
