{"schema_version": 1, "id": "jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 172, "label": "Jackson, MI MSA", "slug": "jackson-mi-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:40:05.216893+00:00", "headline": "Jackson outpaces Michigan on job growth, but workforce keeps shrinking.", "headline_summary": "Jackson MSA posted the state's strongest annual payroll growth at +1.2% and an unemployment rate easing to 5.0%, even as its labor force continued contracting and statewide employment fell 25,000 in a single month.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Jackson MSA unemployment rate", "value": "5.0%", "context": "Down from 5.2% in July 2026"}, {"label": "Jackson annual payroll job growth", "value": "+1.2%", "context": "Highest among 9 Michigan metro areas"}, {"label": "Michigan statewide employment change", "value": "-25,000", "context": "August 2026, workforce fell equally"}, {"label": "Michigan unemployment rate", "value": "5.0%", "context": "0.9 pts above national rate of 4.1%"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Jackson is outperforming the state, but on a shrinking base.", "body": "The metro's +1.2% annual payroll growth leads all nine Michigan metro areas, yet this comes alongside a declining local labor force reported in July 2026. Job creation without workforce growth is a sign of tightening local labor supply, not necessarily broader economic strength."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing wage gains locally buck the state's contraction narrative.", "body": "Metro Manufacturing Production Worker pay rose significantly even as Michigan projects a 16,300-job loss in cyclical sectors like manufacturing and construction statewide in 2026. Jackson's divergence may suggest employers here are competing harder for a shrinking pool of production workers rather than reducing headcount."}, {"headline": "Falling unemployment rate may be masking a falling workforce, not rising opportunity.", "body": "Jackson's rate improved from 5.2% to 5.0% between July and August, mirroring the statewide pattern where lower unemployment coincides with workforce exit rather than net hiring. Government economists should treat the headline rate cautiously without a parallel participation-rate read."}, {"headline": "Service-sector wage strength signals where local consumer activity is holding up.", "body": "Customer Service Representative and Food Service Worker advertised pay both posted moderate-to-significant increases locally, outperforming flat national figures for the same roles. Consistent upward wage pressure in consumer-facing roles is consistent with steady, if modest, local consumer spending activity."}], "local_conditions": "Jackson metro's unemployment rate eased to 5.0% in August from 5.2% in July, and the metro posted the strongest year-over-year payroll job growth among Michigan's nine metro areas at +1.2%, even as the state as a whole shed 25,000 jobs and saw its workforce contract by the same amount.\u00a0That divergence, paired with continued labor force decline locally, suggests Jackson's job growth is occurring against a shrinking pool of available workers rather than a broad expansion of economic activity.", "implications": "Jackson's standout payroll growth relative to peer Michigan metros is a genuine positive signal for commerce leaders assessing the local business climate, but it coexists with a shrinking labor force -- meaning the growth reflects concentrated momentum in specific sectors rather than metro-wide economic acceleration.\u00a0Wage movement in locally advertised roles (Manufacturing Production Worker, Customer Service Representative, Electrician all posting significant year-over-year gains) points to labor supply tightness in both blue-collar and service occupations even as statewide manufacturing contracts.\u00a0Current conditions suggest economic development leaders track whether Jackson's job gains are translating into net population or labor-force growth, not just payroll counts, before characterizing the metro's trajectory as durable expansion.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Watch whether Jackson's labor force decline reverses or deepens in the September/October state release -- a continued drop alongside payroll gains would confirm a labor-supply-constrained growth story rather than a demand-driven one."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Michigan's manufacturing sector is projected to lose over 16,000 jobs statewide in 2026; track whether Jackson's locally outperforming manufacturing wages hold if statewide contraction accelerates and spills into the metro."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "National wage growth has slipped to 3.0% against 3.4% inflation, the weakest real-wage picture since 2021. Local wage-vs-inflation tracking in coming months will clarify whether Jackson's above-trend sector gains are enough to preserve real purchasing power for metro households."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Statewide WARN notices concentrated in manufacturing (33 notices, 3,720 workers) and transportation/logistics give some early signal of sector stress; monitor whether any Jackson-based employers appear in forthcoming Michigan WARN filings."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 23782.0, "metro_p50": 27798.0, "metro_p75": 30638.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 23821.0, "metro_p50": 27103.4, "metro_p75": 29120.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 35482.0, "metro_p75": 38566.0, "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": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 78000.0, "metro_p75": 86500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 23976.0, "metro_p50": 29487.0, "metro_p75": 31830.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 34320.0, "metro_p50": 36816.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59500.0, "metro_p50": 80080.0, "metro_p75": 80080.0, "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": 32760.0, "metro_p50": 38480.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 34320.0, "metro_p50": 39414.0, "metro_p75": 44720.0, "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": 27230.25, "metro_p50": 29043.8, "metro_p75": 31200.0, "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": 33559.0, "metro_p50": 36591.0, "metro_p75": 41937.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 34748.5, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 46685.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58777.0, "metro_p50": 61000.0, "metro_p75": 62500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 84685.0, "metro_p50": 99263.0, "metro_p75": 105823.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 106073.0, "metro_p50": 134905.0, "metro_p75": 149059.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 86135.0, "metro_p50": 104448.6, "metro_p75": 134746.0, "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": 56418.0, "metro_p50": 62254.0, "metro_p75": 64431.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 67286.25, "metro_p50": 77368.6, "metro_p75": 91706.25, "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": 47638.75, "metro_p50": 66877.6, "metro_p75": 70161.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 43680.0, "metro_p50": 58389.0, "metro_p75": 69093.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 61250.0, "metro_p50": 81693.0, "metro_p75": 90662.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33960.0, "metro_p50": 50240.8, "metro_p75": 56356.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60000.0, "metro_p50": 84377.0, "metro_p75": 102500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 48388.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 80378.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 67478.5, "metro_p50": 76353.6, "metro_p75": 89657.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 50960.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 55615.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 32688.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 57328.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 100419.5, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 44731.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 48585.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 50444.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 31200.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66135.0, "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": "jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T13:51:48.340380+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/jackson-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}