{"schema_version": 1, "id": "hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 239, "label": "Hattiesburg, MS MSA", "slug": "hattiesburg-ms-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:41:03.689977+00:00", "headline": "Hattiesburg's low unemployment hides a shrinking labor pool.", "headline_summary": "Hattiesburg unemployment held at 2.9% in August, but the civilian labor force shrank and the metro added zero net jobs, echoing Mississippi's statewide 54.7% participation rate, the second-lowest in the nation.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Hattiesburg unemployment rate", "value": "2.9%", "context": "vs 4.1% national, 3.3% Mississippi"}, {"label": "Metro job growth, August", "value": "0 jobs", "context": "Down from +300 jobs in July 2026"}, {"label": "Mississippi labor force participation", "value": "54.7%", "context": "Down from 55.7% a year earlier, 2nd-lowest US"}, {"label": "Metro private avg. weekly wage", "value": "$1,070.85", "context": "June 2026, Mississippi Dept. of Employment Security"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Low unemployment is masking a shrinking workforce.", "body": "Civilian labor force fell both month-over-month and year-over-year even as unemployment held at 2.9%, meaning the tight rate reflects fewer people working or looking for work. Commerce leaders citing the unemployment rate as evidence of strength should pair it with participation data to avoid an incomplete picture."}, {"headline": "Zero job growth in August signals a stalled expansion.", "body": "A 300-job gain in July gave way to flat employment in August, consistent with Mississippi's statewide 'no-hire, no-fire' pattern described by the state's chief economist. Neither growth nor contraction is occurring, which argues against both alarm and celebration in public economic messaging this quarter."}, {"headline": "Wage trends are diverging sharply across the local business base.", "body": "HVAC technician pay rose significantly locally while administrative assistant, accountant, and teacher pay all fell significantly against flat or rising national figures. Uneven wage movement across sectors complicates any single narrative about cost-of-living or purchasing power for the metro's workforce."}, {"headline": "Healthcare and education anchor the metro, but their wage signals move in opposite directions.", "body": "Registered nurse pay held stable locally while advertised teacher pay fell sharply, even as USM, William Carey, and Forrest County's healthcare and education base remain the metro's core employment anchors. Divergence between two anchor sectors is worth tracking as an early signal of where local cost pressure or budget strain is concentrating."}], "local_conditions": "Hattiesburg's 2.9% August unemployment rate sits well below the national 4.1% reading, but the civilian labor force contracted both month-over-month and year-over-year, and the metro added zero net jobs in August after a 300-job gain in July. Low joblessness alongside a shrinking labor pool and flat employment growth points to a metro where the availability of workers is the binding constraint on economic activity.", "implications": "Shrinking labor force participation against near-full employment means Hattiesburg's growth ceiling is increasingly set by how many residents are available to work, a structural condition that pay incentives alone cannot resolve \u2014 a consideration for economic development recruiting that assumes slack capacity exists locally. Divergent local pay trends, HVAC technician pay up significantly while administrative and education wages fell, suggest uneven cost pressure across the commercial base even as headline unemployment looks healthy. Current conditions suggest monitoring labor force participation alongside unemployment when evaluating site-selection pitches or public messaging about the metro's capacity to absorb new employers.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Mississippi's 54.7% labor force participation rate, second-lowest nationally, has direct relevance for Hattiesburg given its own civilian labor force contraction. Watch whether state or regional workforce initiatives show any measurable effect on local participation in the next data cycle."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "September BLS data for the metro has not yet been released; the next print will show whether August's zero-growth month was a pause or the start of a trend. Economic development messaging should hold off on firm growth claims until that data confirms direction."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Statewide manufacturing accounts for the majority of 2026 Mississippi WARN notices, though none are concentrated in the Hattiesburg metro to date. Commerce leaders should monitor whether any regional manufacturing announcements extend into Forrest or Lamar counties."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Mississippi Development Authority's leadership transition following Director Bill Cork's departure comes amid a $65 billion data-center investment pipeline statewide. How the state positions incentive and site-selection strategy under new leadership could shape whether that capital reaches the Hattiesburg metro."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20800.0, "metro_p50": 25873.2, "metro_p75": 29206.25, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20927.0, "metro_p50": 23828.8, "metro_p75": 26642.0, "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": 24023.0, "metro_p50": 31313.2, "metro_p75": 34195.0, "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": 62400.0, "metro_p50": 80000.0, "metro_p75": 83200.0, "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": 28494.0, "metro_p50": 31710.0, "metro_p75": 35296.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 34826.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 35984.0, "metro_p75": 36400.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 52000.0, "metro_p50": 53677.4, "metro_p75": 57200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30420.0, "metro_p50": 30420.0, "metro_p75": 30420.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32240.0, "metro_p50": 34500.0, "metro_p75": 39751.0, "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": 24960.0, "metro_p50": 25947.2, "metro_p75": 26309.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33764.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 25824.0, "metro_p50": 30160.0, "metro_p75": 32240.0, "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": 27851.25, "metro_p50": 31200.0, "metro_p75": 34840.0, "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": 46068.5, "metro_p50": 62400.0, "metro_p75": 64324.5, "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": 66461.0, "metro_p50": 80098.0, "metro_p75": 88438.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 112505.0, "metro_p50": 155000.0, "metro_p75": 168329.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 84200.0, "metro_p50": 118965.0, "metro_p75": 133817.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 44588.5, "metro_p50": 53625.0, "metro_p75": 54316.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 62986.0, "metro_p50": 81928.0, "metro_p75": 88500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 70357.0, "metro_p50": 80845.0, "metro_p75": 80845.0, "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": 40901.5, "metro_p50": 69856.0, "metro_p75": 79404.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 68896.0, "metro_p50": 68896.0, "metro_p75": 68896.0, "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": 22620.0, "metro_p50": 27775.0, "metro_p75": 43788.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 37500.0, "metro_p50": 80000.0, "metro_p75": 80000.0, "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": 50276.0, "metro_p50": 50276.0, "metro_p75": 50276.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 65692.0, "metro_p50": 78697.0, "metro_p75": 88189.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 67500.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 50528.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 33766.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 60018.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 79196.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 36503.5, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 52212.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 64041.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "stable", "postings_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 28770.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 65872.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "Mississippi Today", "source_url": null, "statement": "Hattiesburg unemployment at 2.9% in August 2026 with labor force decline"}, {"source_name": "USA Facts / Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Metro gained 300 jobs in July, zero in August 2026"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Mississippi labor force participation fell to 54.7%, second-lowest nationally"}, {"source_name": "Corey Miller, Mississippi state economist", "source_url": null, "statement": "Mississippi in 'no-hire, no-fire' pattern per state chief economist"}, {"source_name": "Mississippi Development Authority / Governor's office", "source_url": null, "statement": "MDA Director Bill Cork departure amid $65B investment pipeline"}, {"source_name": "Mississippi Department of Employment Security", "source_url": null, "statement": "Hattiesburg private nonfarm average weekly wage of $1,070.85 in June 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": "hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:22:59.864173+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/hattiesburg-ms-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}