{"schema_version": 1, "id": "battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 112, "label": "Battle Creek, MI MSA", "slug": "battle-creek-mi-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:37:16.756623+00:00", "headline": "Battle Creek jobless rate drops as workforce quietly shrinks.", "headline_summary": "Battle Creek's unemployment rate fell to 5.3% in August from 5.8% in July, but the civilian labor force shrank 7.4% year-over-year to 59,900 \u2014 a sign the improvement reflects fewer job seekers, not stronger local demand.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Battle Creek MSA unemployment", "value": "5.3%", "context": "Down from 5.8% in July; 5.8% a year ago"}, {"label": "Civilian labor force, Calhoun County", "value": "59,900", "context": "Down 7.4% year-over-year (-4,800)"}, {"label": "Michigan statewide unemployment", "value": "5.0%", "context": "0.9 pts above national rate of 4.1%"}, {"label": "National wage growth vs. inflation", "value": "3.0% vs 3.4%", "context": "First real-wage decline in two years"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "A falling jobless rate is masking a shrinking workforce.", "body": "Battle Creek's unemployment rate dropped half a point in a month, but the civilian labor force contracted 7.4% year-over-year \u2014 people are leaving the labor pool, not necessarily finding work. Treat the rate improvement as a caution flag on labor supply, not a signal of economic strength."}, {"headline": "Skilled trades pay is diverging from the broader wage picture.", "body": "CDL truck driver and HVAC technician advertised pay both moved up significantly locally even as manufacturing production worker and construction laborer pay declined. Demand for licensed, hard-to-replace skills appears resilient even as general industrial and construction wages soften."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing's statewide drag has direct local exposure.", "body": "Michigan cyclical industries are projected to lose 16,300 jobs in 2026, and Calhoun County's industrial base remains manufacturing-heavy relative to the state. Regional economic development planning should weigh this sector concentration against the more stable non-cyclical growth occurring in health and government services."}, {"headline": "Healthcare wage momentum stands out against a cooling state picture.", "body": "Registered nurse and CNA/home health aide advertised pay both rose significantly in the metro even as statewide employment fell and participation declined. Consistent with national health-sector job gains, this suggests healthcare remains one of the few genuinely expanding demand centers in the local economy."}], "local_conditions": "Battle Creek MSA unemployment fell to 5.3% in August 2026 from 5.8% in July \u2014 the sharpest month-over-month improvement among Michigan's 18 labor market regions \u2014 but the underlying driver is a shrinking labor force rather than fresh job creation, with the civilian labor force down 7.4% year-over-year to 59,900 and employed residents down 6.9% to 56,700. Statewide manufacturing softness and auto-sector temporary layoffs continue to weigh on the region, even as advertised pay for CDL drivers and electricians moves up, suggesting employer demand is holding in select skilled trades despite a contracting overall workforce.", "implications": "Falling unemployment paired with a shrinking labor force is not the same signal as genuine economic acceleration \u2014 for commerce leaders weighing expansion or investment timing, the Battle Creek data points to a tightening labor pool rather than slack capacity, which has implications for how quickly any new initiative could staff up locally. Public-sector and health-services stability statewide (projected to add roughly 19,500 jobs in 2026) offers a steadier anchor than the cyclical manufacturing base that dominates Calhoun County's industrial mix. Consider reviewing regional workforce participation trends alongside unemployment headlines before drawing conclusions about local economic health from the rate alone.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Whether Battle Creek's labor force decline continues or stabilizes in September data will determine if August's rate drop reflects a real tightening or a one-month statistical artifact. A continued multi-month slide in labor force size would be the more consequential story for regional capacity."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Michigan manufacturing losses and recent WARN filings (including a 350-worker GM notice in Lansing) raise the question of whether displaced manufacturing workers from elsewhere in the state could surface in Calhoun County's labor pool, given the region's own auto-sector exposure."}, {"category": "Expected", "body": "National wage growth has slipped to 3.0% against 3.4% inflation \u2014 the first real-wage erosion in two years. Watch whether local advertised pay trends, currently mixed across sectors, begin tracking that national softening more broadly into Q4."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Michigan's minimum wage rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2027, up from $13.73. Retailers, food service, and hospitality employers in the metro \u2014 sectors already showing mixed advertised pay signals \u2014 will need to factor this scheduled increase into cost and pricing planning well before year-end."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 23971.0, "metro_p50": 28312.6, "metro_p75": 29650.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24960.0, "metro_p50": 29120.0, "metro_p75": 31200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30734.0, "metro_p50": 35711.0, "metro_p75": 41974.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59170.0, "metro_p50": 80190.0, "metro_p75": 92500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29487.0, "metro_p50": 31540.0, "metro_p75": 35360.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 34223.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 77160.0, "metro_p50": 80080.0, "metro_p75": 82467.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33280.0, "metro_p50": 36400.0, "metro_p75": 37648.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32883.5, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 41500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Food Service Worker", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27862.75, "metro_p50": 35152.0, "metro_p75": 37960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32594.0, "metro_p50": 37768.0, "metro_p75": 44946.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 34479.5, "metro_p50": 39520.0, "metro_p75": 40879.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59846.0, "metro_p50": 62400.0, "metro_p75": 63756.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 86522.25, "metro_p50": 106131.6, "metro_p75": 111115.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 110000.0, "metro_p50": 152470.0, "metro_p75": 166507.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 115650.0, "metro_p50": 136253.2, "metro_p75": 136328.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 63625.0, "metro_p50": 80971.0, "metro_p75": 89200.25, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 66409.0, "metro_p50": 85700.0, "metro_p75": 90198.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 61637.0, "metro_p50": 70025.0, "metro_p75": 79195.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 49447.5, "metro_p50": 67049.0, "metro_p75": 67259.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 61250.0, "metro_p50": 81693.0, "metro_p75": 90662.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 39520.0, "metro_p50": 57465.0, "metro_p75": 68020.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 54609.0, "metro_p50": 62400.0, "metro_p75": 67500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 48388.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 80378.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 74678.0, "metro_p50": 103824.4, "metro_p75": 107888.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 55120.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 80697.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 35423.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 50357.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 50485.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 45084.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 48902.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 67745.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 30515.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66370.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [], "methodology": "Advertised pay from active employer job postings, not survey data. WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings: distribution analysis shows roughly the lowest 10% of raw values are erroneous entries, so the reported median is the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay.", "edition_label": "October 2026", "files": {"html": "battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:48:30.828481+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/battle-creek-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}