Hiring in the Southeast: Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama
The fastest-growing large region of the U.S.: manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, life sciences, talent, wages and employment rules.
The regional economy
The Southeast combines strong population growth, major ports and logistics hubs, and a manufacturing base built largely by foreign investors, especially in automotive (South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia) and aerospace (Alabama, Florida).
The region also includes Mississippi and Kentucky, smaller markets with large foreign-owned automotive plants and the same right-to-work rules; the figures and rules below focus on the six main states.
European companies are drawn by lower labor and living costs, no-cost state training programs and right-to-work laws in all six states. Atlanta is a hub for logistics and headquarters, Charlotte for banking, Raleigh-Durham for life sciences and Miami for Latin American business.
Main industries and clusters
Automotive
BMW’s Spartanburg plant employs more than 12,000 people; Alabama’s auto industry has more than 53,000 direct jobs; Volkswagen builds in Chattanooga; Pirelli produces tires in Rome, Georgia.
Aerospace and defense
Airbus assembles A320-family aircraft in Mobile; Huntsville has one of the highest concentrations of engineers in the U.S.
Life sciences
North Carolina passed 100,000 direct life-science jobs, centered on the Research Triangle.
Banking and fintech
Charlotte is the second-largest U.S. banking center, with about 104,000 financial-services jobs.
Logistics and ports
Savannah is one of the busiest U.S. container ports; Atlanta is a national distribution hub.
Health care services
Nashville is home to 17 public health-care companies and more than 370,000 related jobs.
Talent, wages and competition
- Wages are at or below the national level: Atlanta, Raleigh and Huntsville slightly above; Charlotte, Miami and Nashville slightly below; Greenville, SC about 15% below.
- Tight labor markets in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina (3.2–3.5% unemployment) make production and skilled-trade roles hard to fill near large plants.
- Engineers are in strong demand in Huntsville, where engineering jobs are four times the national share.
- Free state training: Georgia Quick Start and readySC in South Carolina provide no-cost recruiting and customized training for qualifying projects.
- Population growth is widening the talent pool, especially around Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta and Huntsville.
What differs from state to state
Region-wide
- All six states are right-to-work.
- None has a statewide pay-transparency law, although remote postings may be caught by other states’ rules.
- Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama effectively apply the federal $7.25 minimum wage.
Florida
- Minimum wage $15.00 since September 30, 2026, then indexed to inflation.
- The CHOICE Act (July 2025) allows non-competes and garden leave of up to four years for employees earning more than twice their county’s mean wage.
- No state income tax.
Tennessee and North Carolina
- Tennessee: non-competes void for employees earning under $70,000 (agreements from July 2026); no state income tax.
- North Carolina: flat income tax of 3.99%; Georgia 5.19% (2026).
Summary for orientation only, current as of October 2026; not legal advice. See also our guide to rules by state.
Italian and European companies in the region
Germany, the UK and France are among the largest foreign employers in the region, and Italy ranked second among countries for new international jobs in Georgia’s record FY2026. The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast is based in Miami, with chapters in Atlanta, Charleston and Tampa; the Consulate General in Miami covers Florida, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.
Cost of doing business
- Price levels (U.S. = 100): Florida 103.4, Georgia 96.3, North Carolina 94.3, South Carolina 93.7, Tennessee 91.9, Alabama 88.8 (BEA, 2024).
- No individual income tax in Florida and Tennessee, which helps net-pay offers.
- Lower manufacturing labor costs: production workers in Upstate South Carolina earn about $23.50 an hour, below the national average.
Questions employers ask
Which location suits a first hire or a small team?
It depends on the function: Atlanta and Charlotte for corporate, finance and logistics roles; Raleigh-Durham for life sciences; Huntsville for engineering; Miami for Latin America-facing roles. All cost less than the Northeast or Washington.
Are non-competes enforceable here?
Florida allows non-competes of up to four years for high earners under the CHOICE Act, with notice and counsel requirements; Tennessee voids them below $70,000 for new agreements. Other states apply reasonableness tests.
Will the state help train staff for a new plant?
Usually yes, for qualifying projects: Georgia Quick Start and readySC provide no-cost recruiting and customized training.
Explore the U.S. regions
Data sources
BLS state unemployment, Aug 2026 · BEA state GDP (FRED) · Census population estimates 2025 · Georgia economic development FY2026 · Global Business Alliance state data · BMW Plant Spartanburg 2025 · Florida CHOICE Act (Morgan Lewis) · Tax Foundation 2026 income tax rates
Figures are the latest available as of October 2026 (state unemployment: August 2026, preliminary; GDP: 2025; wages: BLS OEWS May 2025; foreign-affiliate jobs: BEA 2023). Regional totals are sums of state figures.
Hiring in the Southeast?
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