A new white paper from the CRER describes the Chattanooga metro area economy in terms of the occupations of its residents. Looking at employment from the perspective of occupations rather than industries provides a better picture of the skills, training, and job types that underlie the economy. The largest occupation groups are fairly general in that they are found in significant numbers across most industries. Unsurprisingly, earnings are typically highest for occupations where a bachelor’s degree or higher is expected. However, given that 70 percent of workers are in occupations where a bachelor’s degree is not typical, the region’s high schools, vocational training, and community colleges should not be overlooked.