{"schema_version": 1, "id": "goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 280, "label": "Goldsboro, NC MSA", "slug": "goldsboro-nc-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:39:14.034490+00:00", "headline": "Goldsboro holds steady as national hiring momentum cools sharply.", "headline_summary": "Goldsboro's unemployment rate sat at 3.7% through July against a national rate of 4.2% in September, while metro manufacturing pay climbed to $39,000 even as national wage growth slowed to its weakest pace since 2021.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Goldsboro MSA unemployment rate", "value": "3.7%", "context": "July 2026, vs 5.6% long-term metro average"}, {"label": "National payroll growth", "value": "29,000 jobs", "context": "September 2026, below 45k 12-mo average"}, {"label": "National wage growth", "value": "3.0% YoY", "context": "Lowest since May 2021; below 3.4% CPI"}, {"label": "NC labor force participation", "value": "57.8%", "context": "Down 1.6 pts YoY, tied for 45th nationally"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Public institutions remain Goldsboro's shock absorber.", "body": "Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Wayne Community College, and Wayne Memorial Hospital anchor employment even as national government payrolls shed 17,000 jobs in September and have declined 216,000 over the past year. That insulation helps explain why metro unemployment (3.7%) sits well below both state and national cooling trends."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing pay strength bucks the statewide pattern.", "body": "North Carolina's manufacturing sector remains the state's largest net job loser, yet Goldsboro production worker pay rose significantly to $39,000, nearly matching the national median. Divergence from the statewide trend may signal localized demand tied to defense-adjacent or specialized production activity worth tracking as a leading indicator."}, {"headline": "Trucking and construction pay softness mirrors a statewide labor supply story.", "body": "CDL driver pay fell significantly in Goldsboro (down to $69,145) and construction laborer pay declined moderately, consistent with statewide reporting that reduced foreign-born labor participation is disproportionately affecting construction and logistics-adjacent trades. This is a bare demographic and labor-supply fact, not a comment on any specific policy's merits."}, {"headline": "Wage-inflation gap is a national story Goldsboro hasn't fully felt yet.", "body": "National real wages are no longer outpacing inflation (3.0% wage growth versus 3.4% CPI), but several Goldsboro roles \u2014 healthcare, HVAC, manufacturing \u2014 still show upward pay momentum. Commerce leaders should watch whether that local resilience holds if national softening persists into Q4."}], "local_conditions": "Goldsboro MSA's unemployment rate held at 3.7% through July 2026 (latest available), remaining well below the long-term metro average of 5.6% and anchored by the stability of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Wayne Community College, and Wayne Memorial Hospital as the metro's largest employers. National hiring cooled sharply in September \u2014 payrolls grew just 29,000 with wage growth slipping to 3.0%, its weakest pace since May 2021 \u2014 a divergence that puts Goldsboro's locally driven, public-institution-anchored stability in sharper relief against a softening national backdrop.", "implications": "Manufacturing production worker pay in Goldsboro rose significantly to a metro median of $39,000, nearly matching the national figure, while CDL truck driver pay fell significantly to $69,145 \u2014 a split that points to uneven sector momentum rather than a uniform local trend. Commerce leaders weighing expansion or relocation incentives should read this divergence alongside the metro's historically low unemployment rate: tight labor supply in select trades may constrain how quickly new investment translates into local payroll growth. Current conditions suggest evaluating sector-specific wage trajectories before drawing broad conclusions about overall business climate from headline unemployment figures alone.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected release", "body": "BLS will publish official August and September metro-level data for Goldsboro in October through the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release. Current 3.7% unemployment reflects July figures only \u2014 treat September narrative as provisional until confirmed."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "North Carolina's labor force participation rate fell to 57.8%, down 1.6 percentage points year-over-year and tied for 45th nationally. Whether Goldsboro's civilian labor force follows the statewide contraction pattern will shape how much local employers can draw on nearby labor pools for expansion plans."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "North Carolina logged 13 WARN notices in the past 90 days affecting 1,336 workers, concentrated in manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare \u2014 sectors directly represented in Goldsboro's local economy. No Goldsboro-specific WARN filings have surfaced yet, but statewide sector concentration warrants monitoring."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "National job postings turned positive year-over-year for the first time in nearly four years (Indeed Hiring Lab index at 103.5), even as headline payroll growth cooled. Whether that national posting rebound reaches a defense- and education-anchored metro like Goldsboro will be a useful test of broader momentum spillover."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22345.0, "metro_p50": 25526.0, "metro_p75": 27772.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22327.0, "metro_p50": 25145.0, "metro_p75": 26930.5, "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": 29817.0, "metro_p50": 33952.0, "metro_p75": 34008.0, "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": 54059.0, "metro_p50": 69144.6, "metro_p75": 81474.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27597.0, "metro_p50": 30739.2, "metro_p75": 33611.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30161.0, "metro_p50": 32073.2, "metro_p75": 33898.0, "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": 53344.0, "metro_p50": 62400.0, "metro_p75": 62592.0, "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": 29817.0, "metro_p50": 39000.0, "metro_p75": 41914.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33280.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 46800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 25860.0, "metro_p50": 30551.2, "metro_p75": 32240.0, "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": 33225.0, "metro_p50": 37000.0, "metro_p75": 42640.0, "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": 36825.0, "metro_p50": 40448.4, "metro_p75": 41088.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 68916.0, "metro_p75": 75920.0, "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": 80651.75, "metro_p50": 93609.2, "metro_p75": 101062.25, "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": 113926.0, "metro_p50": 144895.0, "metro_p75": 161200.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 100466.5, "metro_p50": 126436.0, "metro_p75": 140869.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 55748.75, "metro_p50": 67580.0, "metro_p75": 75988.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 70599.0, "metro_p50": 88461.0, "metro_p75": 96797.0, "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": 37440.0, "metro_p50": 37855.0, "metro_p75": 44747.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 50000.0, "metro_p50": 62593.0, "metro_p75": 77500.0, "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": 63665.0, "metro_p50": 83364.0, "metro_p75": 89625.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 38538.0, "metro_p50": 47845.4, "metro_p75": 51225.25, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 55000.0, "metro_p50": 60000.0, "metro_p75": 60000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 51195.0, "metro_p50": 59000.0, "metro_p75": 81142.25, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 81669.0, "metro_p50": 97436.2, "metro_p75": 109200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 89100.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 40771.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 38376.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 60277.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 75725.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 50733.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 47321.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 58916.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 30539.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 68835.0, "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": "goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:50:57.366492+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/goldsboro-nc-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}