{"schema_version": 1, "id": "corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 208, "label": "Corpus Christi, TX MSA", "slug": "corpus-christi-tx-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:38:38.470159+00:00", "headline": "Corpus Christi holds steady while Texas pulls ahead.", "headline_summary": "Metro job growth sits at just 0.5% annually against Texas's 1.1% pace, with a 5.0% local unemployment rate running a full point above the state's 4.0% reading.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "5.0%", "context": "July 2026, vs 4.0% statewide"}, {"label": "Metro annual job growth", "value": "0.5%", "context": "vs 1.1% Texas, 1.3% TX vs 0.2% US"}, {"label": "Metro monthly job change", "value": "+200", "context": "After losing 300 jobs in June 2026"}, {"label": "National wage-vs-inflation gap", "value": "3.0% wages vs 3.4% CPI", "context": "Lowest wage growth since May 2021"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Corpus Christi growth is flat while Texas accelerates.", "body": "0.5% annual job growth locally lags the 1.1% statewide rate and the Dallas Fed's upwardly revised 2.0% state forecast, suggesting the metro is not fully participating in the broader Texas expansion tied to data center and AI-related investment. Economic development leaders may want to examine whether metro-specific factors, rather than statewide headwinds, explain the gap."}, {"headline": "Sector split masks a flat headline number.", "body": "Healthcare and construction advertised pay are rising (Registered Nurse up significantly to $80,305, Electrician up to $72,800) even as retail, logistics, and manufacturing-adjacent wages decline, a divergence that mirrors the national blue-collar/white-collar split seen in September payroll data. A single unemployment figure understates how unevenly the local economy is actually performing across sectors."}, {"headline": "Public-sector pay signals quiet stability, not retrenchment.", "body": "Naval Air Station Corpus Christi's roughly 6,200 civilian jobs remain the metro's single largest employment anchor, and local teacher pay rose significantly (up to $52,302) even as national government payrolls shrank by 17,000 in September. That contrast suggests Corpus Christi's public-sector footprint is, for now, insulated from the federal and state-level public employment softness showing up in national data."}, {"headline": "Wage-vs-inflation gap looks wider locally than nationally.", "body": "Several metro-level advertised pay figures \u2014 cashier, delivery driver, construction laborer, customer service, food service, nursing aide \u2014 are declining even as national CPI runs near 3.4%, a sharper local divergence than the already-softening national wage picture (3.0% annual wage growth against 3.4% inflation). Consumer purchasing power in service- and trade-heavy households may be eroding faster here than the national headline suggests."}], "local_conditions": "Corpus Christi's labor market cooled further in July 2026, with unemployment at 5.0% and payrolls growing just 0.5% year-over-year \u2014 a pace that trails both the 1.1% Texas rate and the broader state's 4.0% unemployment reading. Momentum remains concentrated in healthcare, accommodation/food services, and construction, while a 300-job loss in June and a 200-job gain in September point to a metro economy that is holding steady rather than expanding, consistent with slower national hiring (29,000 jobs added in September, the weakest reading in over a year).", "implications": "Flat-to-soft job growth alongside a 5.0% unemployment rate suggests consumer demand and business investment decisions locally should be made with the expectation of a stagnant, not expanding, labor pool \u2014 a reality for any commerce leader weighing expansion timing against workforce availability. Advertised pay trends reinforce this picture: metro wage movement is mixed across sectors (declines in retail, logistics, and construction-adjacent trades alongside gains in electrician, nursing, and data engineering roles), indicating the local economy is not broadly overheating or broadly weakening but bifurcating by sector. Commerce and economic development leaders should consider evaluating expansion or investment plans against sector-specific signals rather than a single metro-wide hiring narrative.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Worth watching", "body": "September's official BLS unemployment figure for the metro has not yet been released; watch whether the 5.0% July rate holds or rises when state data catches up, since a move above 5% would mark a multi-month deterioration trend."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Texas manufacturing and transportation/logistics account for the bulk of statewide WARN notices (116 of 91 total filings combined). Corpus Christi's port- and energy-adjacent logistics base make it worth monitoring for spillover layoff activity even without local notices yet filed."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Texas labor force participation (63.7%) continues to outpace the national rate (62.2%), but statewide labor force growth has slowed sharply (10,900 added over the year versus 17,100 in a single recent month). Whether Corpus Christi's participation holds will shape how much local employers can draw on existing residents versus needing in-migration."}, {"category": "Expected", "body": "Tariff and immigration enforcement policy continue to surface as real cost and labor-supply variables for Gulf Coast manufacturing, construction, and logistics operators; no local data yet isolates the effect, but national WARN activity concentrated in transportation and manufacturing warrants tracking for Corpus Christi-specific impact."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22880.0, "metro_p50": 28577.8, "metro_p75": 31886.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 21333.0, "metro_p50": 24134.0, "metro_p75": 26393.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29637.75, "metro_p50": 33378.0, "metro_p75": 35685.25, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 51582.0, "metro_p50": 76779.0, "metro_p75": 85444.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27310.0, "metro_p50": 30311.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "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": 30160.0, "metro_p50": 34320.0, "metro_p75": 35671.0, "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": 52211.75, "metro_p50": 72800.0, "metro_p75": 76960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30528.0, "metro_p50": 39520.0, "metro_p75": 44720.0, "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": 31115.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 24440.0, "metro_p50": 28080.0, "metro_p75": 31200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 30468.0, "metro_p50": 33956.6, "metro_p75": 37392.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 28080.0, "metro_p50": 36314.8, "metro_p75": 40309.0, "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": 59737.0, "metro_p50": 71548.8, "metro_p75": 75098.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 73066.5, "metro_p50": 80305.0, "metro_p75": 91700.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 95123.25, "metro_p50": 111711.8, "metro_p75": 124816.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 100220.25, "metro_p50": 136140.4, "metro_p75": 154980.0, "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": 55806.0, "metro_p50": 63436.0, "metro_p75": 75280.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 68860.0, "metro_p50": 76842.0, "metro_p75": 84827.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 38801.0, "metro_p50": 55625.8, "metro_p75": 69057.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 46120.0, "metro_p50": 47962.6, "metro_p75": 52338.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 70000.0, "metro_p50": 83711.8, "metro_p75": 98390.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30047.0, "metro_p50": 52302.4, "metro_p75": 55858.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58695.0, "metro_p50": 80077.2, "metro_p75": 96139.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 48368.0, "metro_p50": 70236.8, "metro_p75": 81507.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 87348.0, "metro_p50": 105220.0, "metro_p75": 105220.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 63893.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 73283.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 36962.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 59000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 69436.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 44491.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 51501.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 72800.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 28412.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 64547.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "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": "corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:49:47.425235+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/corpus-christi-tx-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}