{"schema_version": 1, "id": "dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 182, "label": "Dothan, AL MSA", "slug": "dothan-al-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:33:21.264319+00:00", "headline": "Dothan's labor pool grows while advertised pay cools.", "headline_summary": "Dothan unemployment rose to 3.5% from 2.9% a year ago alongside Alabama's climb in prime-age participation to 79.5%, even as advertised pay for roles like Registered Nurse and Operations Manager declined locally while national figures held or rose.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Dothan MSA unemployment rate", "value": "3.5%", "context": "Up from 2.9% a year ago (Oct 2025)"}, {"label": "Alabama prime-age labor force participation", "value": "79.5%", "context": "Up from 78.4% a year earlier"}, {"label": "Dothan nonfarm employment", "value": "63,200", "context": "Stable vs. Oct 2025 level"}, {"label": "National unemployment rate", "value": "4.1%", "context": "vs. 3.5% in Dothan metro"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "More Dothan-area residents are entering the workforce.", "body": "Unemployment ticked up to 3.5% from 2.9% a year ago, but Alabama's parallel statewide pattern \u2014 unemployment rising alongside participation gains to 79.5% \u2014 indicates labor supply expansion. That combination typically signals a market gaining capacity, a relevant data point for any employer evaluating whether the metro can support a larger workforce."}, {"headline": "Metro pay trends are diverging from national wage gains.", "body": "Registered Nurse, Administrative Assistant, Operations Manager and Electrician advertised pay all declined locally this month while national figures for the same roles held flat or rose. The gap may suggest Dothan employers face less competitive pressure to raise advertised pay than peer metros, a relevant signal for assessing local cost-of-doing-business advantages."}, {"headline": "HVAC and skilled trades pay bucks the softening trend.", "body": "HVAC Technician advertised pay rose significantly to $67,234, outperforming most other metro roles even as Electrician and Construction Laborer pay slipped. The divergence is consistent with Alabama's broader skilled-trades strength \u2014 the state ranks sixth nationally in trades employment growth since 2019 \u2014 pointing to a pocket of real demand within an otherwise cooling trade and construction segment."}, {"headline": "Public-sector and healthcare anchors continue to stabilize the base.", "body": "Government, Southeast Alabama Medical Center, Flowers Hospital and Houston County Schools remain among the area's largest employers, and statewide government payrolls grew by 4,300 over the year. That stability gives commerce leaders a predictable floor for local consumer spending even as private-sector wage signals soften."}], "local_conditions": "Dothan's unemployment rate held at 3.5% in October, up from 2.9% a year earlier even as nonfarm employment stayed near 63,200 \u2014 a pattern consistent with more residents entering the labor force, mirroring the statewide trend where prime-age participation climbed to 79.5%. Houston County's 3.7% rate and the metro's concentration in government, health services, agriculture and trade mean local momentum is tracking a slower, steadier path than the national 4.1% print, with no major WARN filings reported locally this month.", "implications": "Rising participation alongside a still-low unemployment rate signals a local labor pool that is deepening, which supports the case for expansion-minded investment decisions by commerce and economic development leaders. Wage data across metro roles skews softer than national figures \u2014 Registered Nurse, Administrative Assistant, and Operations Manager pay all moved down locally while national pay rose \u2014 suggesting employers here are not yet bidding aggressively for talent, a sign of available capacity. Current conditions suggest economic development leaders highlight this labor-supply cushion when courting employers considering Southeast Alabama for site selection.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Watch whether Houston County's unemployment rate, currently 3.7%, converges with or diverges from the metro's 3.5% rate in coming months \u2014 a widening gap would point to uneven conditions within the metro worth flagging for site-selection conversations."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "National softening in information, professional/business services and financial activities has not yet shown up meaningfully in Dothan's employer base, given limited local concentration in those sectors; a continued national slide would be a useful indicator to monitor, separate from immediate local risk."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Statewide WARN activity included a Dothan-area filing (Flagstone Foods, 98 workers) earlier in 2026; any additional filings in the Alabama WARN tracker over the next 60 days would be the clearest early sign of a shift from labor-supply growth to labor-market stress."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Wage-versus-CPI divergence nationally (1.5% earnings growth against 3.5% inflation) has not yet been matched by comparable local wage data; if Alabama's Q3 wage figures confirm a similar gap, consumer spending power in the metro could soften heading into the holiday season."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20173.0, "metro_p50": 24616.4, "metro_p75": 27040.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 21840.0, "metro_p50": 24569.4, "metro_p75": 28073.25, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 31268.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30695.0, "metro_p50": 35291.0, "metro_p75": 39441.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38480.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59094.0, "metro_p50": 80600.0, "metro_p75": 91000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28643.0, "metro_p50": 32500.0, "metro_p75": 33933.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 34826.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27169.75, "metro_p50": 30160.0, "metro_p75": 32527.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 60616.0, "metro_p75": 63546.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28483.0, "metro_p50": 30104.2, "metro_p75": 33065.0, "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": 28598.0, "metro_p50": 36763.0, "metro_p75": 39780.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Food Service Worker", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26488.0, "metro_p50": 30254.8, "metro_p75": 31092.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33764.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28470.75, "metro_p50": 34048.6, "metro_p75": 36458.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30160.0, "metro_p50": 37771.4, "metro_p75": 48487.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 54834.0, "metro_p50": 67234.0, "metro_p75": 70262.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 80143.0, "metro_p50": 93973.0, "metro_p75": 102670.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 104079.0, "metro_p50": 148030.6, "metro_p75": 160000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 92210.25, "metro_p50": 107500.0, "metro_p75": 110821.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 56313.0, "metro_p50": 65900.0, "metro_p75": 70870.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 71592.0, "metro_p50": 90150.8, "metro_p75": 101623.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 47500.0, "metro_p50": 59090.4, "metro_p75": 64707.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 43355.0, "metro_p50": 56056.0, "metro_p75": 69005.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 55900.0, "metro_p50": 70071.6, "metro_p75": 75736.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 86294.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 25894.0, "metro_p50": 56176.4, "metro_p75": 61574.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58746.5, "metro_p50": 80000.0, "metro_p75": 85331.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94009.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 43698.25, "metro_p50": 57387.4, "metro_p75": 77854.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 80265.0, "metro_p50": 97933.0, "metro_p75": 108350.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 54553.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 61614.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 32434.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 58567.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 71757.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 49920.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 74308.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 91068.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 29080.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 64169.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": "https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.al_dothan_msa.htm", "statement": "Dothan MSA unemployment rate at 3.5% in October 2026, up from 2.9% a year earlier"}, {"source_name": "Alabama Department of Workforce", "source_url": null, "statement": "Houston County unemployment rate at 3.7% in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "Alabama Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Alabama prime-age labor force participation rose to 79.5% from 78.4%"}, {"source_name": "Alabama Department of Labor / Secretary Greg Reed", "source_url": null, "statement": "Alabama ranked 6th nationally for skilled trades employment growth 2019-2025"}, {"source_name": "Alabama WARN Notice Tracker", "source_url": null, "statement": "Flagstone Foods Dothan-area layoff of 98 workers in 2026"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": "https://www.bls.gov", "statement": "National median weekly earnings rose 1.5% vs 3.5% CPI gain in Q3 2026"}], "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": "November 2026", "files": {"html": "dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:21:08.268653+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/dothan-al-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}