{"schema_version": 1, "id": "in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 246, "label": "IN NONMETROPOLITAN AREA", "slug": "in-nonmetropolitan-area"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:39:59.948839+00:00", "headline": "Rural Indiana's investment wins mask county-level wage divergence.", "headline_summary": "Pulaski County's 2.7% unemployment and a $215 million Givaudan investment in Dearborn County contrast with wages below the national average in 82 of 83 smaller Indiana counties.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Lowest nonmetro unemployment rate", "value": "2.7%", "context": "Pulaski County vs 3.3% statewide, 4.1% national"}, {"label": "County wage gap", "value": "$742 vs $1,695/week", "context": "Brown County low vs Martin County high"}, {"label": "Local government fiscal confidence", "value": "18.6%", "context": "Rate excellent/very good, down from 31.3% in 2025"}, {"label": "Indiana labor force participation", "value": "63%", "context": "Down from 63.1%, vs 61.6% national"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Rural Indiana's low unemployment masks wide wage dispersion.", "body": "Pulaski, Wells and Boone counties post unemployment well under the state average, yet 82 of 83 smaller counties still report wages below the national benchmark, with a more than $950 weekly gap between the highest- and lowest-paid counties. Tight labor availability in some counties may not translate into matching wage pressure, a sign that labor supply and wage growth are decoupling in parts of the rural economy."}, {"headline": "Capital investment is landing in specific sectors, not broadly.", "body": "Givaudan's $215 million Dearborn County facility and the state's 570 new high-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing, agbioscience and defense represent targeted, named commitments rather than economy-wide hiring momentum. Commerce leaders evaluating business climate should weigh these wins against softer advertised-pay trends in warehouse management (down significantly) and marketing roles (down moderately) that suggest uneven momentum across the broader basket."}, {"headline": "Local government financial confidence is eroding faster than labor data suggests.", "body": "Only 18.6% of local government leaders rated their financial situation excellent to very good in 2026, down from 31.3% a year earlier, even as statewide unemployment sits near a three-year low. That divergence may suggest fiscal pressure on public-sector budgets is building independent of labor market tightness, a signal relevant to public-sector stability discussions distinct from private hiring trends."}, {"headline": "Statewide participation softness bears watching at the county level.", "body": "Indiana's labor force participation rate slipped to 63% in August from 63.1%, continuing a 12-month decline of 0.8 points even though the rate remains above the national 61.6%. Sustained erosion in labor force participation, if it persists in nonmetro counties, could narrow the labor pool available to support announced investment projects over time."}], "local_conditions": "Indiana's nonmetro counties show a split economy: Pulaski (2.7%), Wells (2.8%) and Boone (2.9%) counties post unemployment rates well below the state's already-low 3.3%, while wage levels in 82 of 83 smaller counties still trail the national average, with Martin County topping out at $1,695 weekly against Brown County's $742 low. Fresh capital commitments \u2014 including Givaudan's $215 million Dearborn County facility and a state-announced 570 new high-wage jobs across advanced manufacturing, agbioscience and defense \u2014 point to sector-specific investment momentum even as aggregate rural wage growth remains uneven across counties.", "implications": "Wide county-to-county wage and unemployment dispersion suggests nonmetro Indiana is not one labor market but dozens of smaller ones, each responding differently to the same statewide investment announcements \u2014 a dynamic that matters for how commerce leaders calibrate expansion or site-location pitches to specific counties rather than the region as a whole. Named investments in manufacturing and agbioscience suggest sector-specific momentum that may not translate evenly to retail, logistics or office-based activity, where metro-level advertised pay for roles like warehouse associate and account manager is trending down. Local chambers and economic development offices should consider tracking county-level wage and participation data alongside statewide averages when assessing whether local business conditions support new investment or expansion commitments.\n\n", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Whether the Givaudan Dearborn County project and the state's 570 newly announced jobs in advanced manufacturing and agbioscience begin showing up in county-level payroll and wage data over the next two reporting cycles, or remain announcements without visible local effect."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Local government financial confidence fell sharply year over year even as unemployment held near historic lows; watch for budget or service-level strain in nonmetro counties that could affect public-sector stability independent of private labor conditions."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Indiana's labor force participation rate has declined for 12 straight months; a continued slide in nonmetro counties specifically would be a more consequential signal for long-term labor supply than the state's still-favorable national comparison suggests."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "National nonfarm payrolls grew just 29,000 in September with real wages now trailing inflation (3.0% wage growth vs 3.4% CPI); if that national softening reaches Indiana's manufacturing-heavy nonmetro counties, it would test whether recent investment announcements can offset broader cooling."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20800.0, "metro_p50": 26451.0, "metro_p75": 30160.0, "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": 23289.0, "metro_p50": 26000.0, "metro_p75": 27924.0, "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": 30923.0, "metro_p50": 35044.0, "metro_p75": 38480.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 75790.0, "metro_p75": 88000.0, "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": 26728.0, "metro_p50": 30916.0, "metro_p75": 33760.0, "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": 33558.0, "metro_p50": 40040.0, "metro_p75": 42640.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59443.0, "metro_p50": 70720.0, "metro_p75": 72800.0, "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": 33626.0, "metro_p50": 37774.0, "metro_p75": 42500.0, "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": 32185.0, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 40185.0, "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": 27040.0, "metro_p50": 29008.8, "metro_p75": 30160.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33170.0, "metro_p50": 36321.0, "metro_p75": 39660.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 38610.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 54080.0, "metro_p50": 66560.0, "metro_p75": 74880.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 78520.0, "metro_p50": 89438.0, "metro_p75": 98046.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 86800.0, "metro_p50": 129191.0, "metro_p75": 135695.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 89883.0, "metro_p50": 102762.0, "metro_p75": 119600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 53393.5, "metro_p50": 67073.0, "metro_p75": 74091.0, "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": 66269.0, "metro_p50": 78219.0, "metro_p75": 87952.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57459.5, "metro_p50": 69490.0, "metro_p75": 77108.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 38116.0, "metro_p50": 49288.4, "metro_p75": 62659.0, "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": 72499.25, "metro_p50": 81721.0, "metro_p75": 90187.0, "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": 32240.0, "metro_p50": 49518.0, "metro_p75": 55227.0, "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": 35143.0, "metro_p50": 63484.0, "metro_p75": 85000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 63750.0, "metro_p50": 65401.0, "metro_p75": 67500.0, "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": 76670.5, "metro_p50": 100518.0, "metro_p75": 106603.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 57200.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 72182.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 37940.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 62000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 95450.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 55000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 47840.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 50966.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 31200.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66250.0, "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": "in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:51:42.409063+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/in-nonmetropolitan-area/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}