{"schema_version": 1, "id": "florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 189, "label": "Florence, SC MSA", "slug": "florence-sc-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:37:57.463189+00:00", "headline": "Florence tightens toward the state average, trades lead wages.", "headline_summary": "Florence MSA unemployment fell to 4.2% in September with payrolls up to 97,100, even as the metro still trails South Carolina's 4.0-4.1% statewide rate and Charleston's 3.2%.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Florence MSA unemployment rate", "value": "4.2%", "context": "Down from 4.8% Sept 2025; still above SC's 4.0-4.1% statewide"}, {"label": "Florence nonfarm employment", "value": "97,100", "context": "Up 600 jobs month-over-month, +1,200 year-over-year"}, {"label": "SC statewide labor force", "value": "2,679,964", "context": "Record high, fastest-growing labor force in the US in 2026"}, {"label": "County-level unemployment gap", "value": "4.1% vs 4.5%", "context": "Florence County vs Darlington County, Sept 2026"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Florence job growth is outpacing its own unemployment trend.", "body": "Nonfarm payrolls rose 600 jobs in a single month to 97,100 while unemployment dropped six-tenths of a point, a combination that points to labor force absorption as the driver, with no sign of a shrinking workforce. That pairing is a healthier signal for local business climate than unemployment improvement driven by discouraged workers leaving the labor force."}, {"headline": "Skilled trades and healthcare carry this month's wage story.", "body": "Construction laborer pay rose significantly and HVAC technician, electrician and registered nurse pay rose moderately-to-significantly in Florence, while retail, food service and customer service wages sat flat or declined. Divergence this sharp suggests capital investment and health-system activity are driving the metro's wage pressure, with consumer-facing retail contributing little to that trend."}, {"headline": "Florence still trails the state's unemployment floor.", "body": "At 4.2%, Florence sits above South Carolina's statewide 4.0-4.1% rate and well above Charleston's 3.2% and Greenville's 3.3%, meaning the metro's improvement is real but incomplete relative to peer metros. Economic development pitches citing statewide tightness should be calibrated to Florence's specific position in that range."}, {"headline": "CDL driver pay is softening against a national backdrop of stability.", "body": "Metro CDL truck driver pay moved down moderately to $80,028 even as the national median held flat near $78,872, a reversal from Florence's historical premium tied to its logistics corridor position. Worth tracking given the metro's warehouse and distribution employer base, including Spartan Logistics."}], "local_conditions": "Florence MSA unemployment fell to 4.2% in September, down six-tenths of a point from August and tracking the statewide pattern of seventh-consecutive-month improvement, while total nonfarm employment climbed to 97,100, up 600 jobs on the month and 1,200 over the year. Local momentum is occurring against a national backdrop of above-trend but slowing payroll growth and a state labor force that hit a record 2.68 million in September, suggesting Florence's tightening is consistent with broader South Carolina strength and reflects a metro-wide trend.", "implications": "Advertised pay data shows construction labor, electricians, HVAC technicians and registered nurses posting moderate-to-significant increases locally, a pattern consistent with continued build-out in logistics, healthcare and skilled trades and concentrated in those sectors rather than spread evenly across the metro economy. Commerce leaders evaluating expansion or relocation decisions should weigh that Florence's unemployment rate sits above the state average of 4.0-4.1% even as job growth accelerates, meaning available labor capacity may exist in specific occupational pockets even as skilled-trade and healthcare wages climb. Current conditions suggest reviewing which sectors are absorbing local labor force growth before assuming uniform tightness across the metro's business base.\n\n", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected data release", "body": "BLS metro-level data for October 2026 is due in late October/early November; confirmation of whether Florence's 4.2% rate extends its six-month improvement trend will be the first real test of durability versus a one-month dip."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Darlington County's unemployment rate (4.5%) continues to run noticeably above Florence County's (4.1%); a persistent county-level gap within the same MSA may warrant separate tracking by local economic development officials, since treating the metro as uniform could obscure this divide."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "South Carolina posted zero WARN notices of scale specific to the Florence MSA this period, but statewide manufacturing and transportation/logistics sectors account for the bulk of the state's 51 notices and 7,206 affected workers. Given Florence's logistics and manufacturing employer concentration, any statewide WARN uptick in those sectors is a leading indicator worth monitoring locally."}, {"category": "Policy signal", "body": "National wage-vs-CPI divergence (1.5% earnings growth against 3.5% inflation in Q3) has not yet shown up as a distinct Florence-specific story, but continued real-wage erosion nationally would pressure local consumer spending power across retail and services, a channel commerce leaders should track through local sales and foot-traffic data alongside wage data."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 21619.5, "metro_p50": 26538.0, "metro_p75": 28509.0, "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": 22339.0, "metro_p50": 25038.0, "metro_p75": 27040.0, "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": 30378.25, "metro_p50": 36997.0, "metro_p75": 38480.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38480.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57650.0, "metro_p50": 80028.0, "metro_p75": 90500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26668.0, "metro_p50": 30626.0, "metro_p75": 31789.0, "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": 28567.0, "metro_p50": 34320.0, "metro_p75": 43043.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 53721.25, "metro_p50": 64723.0, "metro_p75": 71073.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 29717.0, "metro_p50": 34171.0, "metro_p75": 37999.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 32095.0, "metro_p50": 36822.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Food Service Worker", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26325.5, "metro_p50": 27256.8, "metro_p75": 27437.5, "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": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 35527.0, "metro_p75": 40040.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32949.75, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 42750.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 65520.0, "metro_p75": 69872.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 81154.25, "metro_p50": 96198.0, "metro_p75": 103880.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 118103.0, "metro_p50": 153192.2, "metro_p75": 170000.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 99179.0, "metro_p50": 137912.0, "metro_p75": 155363.0, "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": 54442.25, "metro_p50": 56670.0, "metro_p75": 56670.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59985.25, "metro_p50": 68329.0, "metro_p75": 71288.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 52500.0, "metro_p50": 66480.0, "metro_p75": 79476.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 43945.0, "metro_p50": 58515.6, "metro_p75": 70605.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 74879.0, "metro_p50": 82540.0, "metro_p75": 82955.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 86294.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33670.0, "metro_p50": 55618.0, "metro_p75": 62273.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 56378.25, "metro_p50": 88484.4, "metro_p75": 120654.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94009.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 60072.0, "metro_p50": 78053.0, "metro_p75": 78053.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 72756.0, "metro_p50": 89500.0, "metro_p75": 101689.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 61751.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 72952.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 34301.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 63850.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 58970.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 54997.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 80967.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 78598.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 29124.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 64927.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "SC Department of Employment and Workforce", "source_url": null, "statement": "Florence MSA unemployment fell to 4.2% in September, down 0.6 points"}, {"source_name": "SC Department of Employment and Workforce", "source_url": null, "statement": "South Carolina labor force reached record 2,679,964 in September"}, {"source_name": "SC Department of Employment and Workforce", "source_url": null, "statement": "Florence County 4.1% vs Darlington County 4.5% unemployment"}, {"source_name": "SC WARN Notice tracker", "source_url": null, "statement": "South Carolina had 51 WARN notices affecting 7,206 employees through October"}, {"source_name": "SC Department of Employment and Workforce", "source_url": null, "statement": "Charleston 3.2% and Greenville 3.3% unemployment as peer-metro comparison"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "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": "florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:21:59.627314+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/florence-sc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}