{"schema_version": 1, "id": "jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 278, "label": "Jackson, TN MSA", "slug": "jackson-tn-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:43:55.936624+00:00", "headline": "Jackson manufacturing draws capital as local joblessness lags the state.", "headline_summary": "Jackson's 3.9% unemployment rate trails Tennessee's 3.4% statewide figure even as roughly $64 million in new manufacturing investment from Siemens Healthineers, Sam Dong, and ArtiCast Jackson signals continued confidence in the metro's industrial base.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Jackson metro unemployment", "value": "3.9%", "context": "vs. 3.4% statewide Tennessee, July 2026"}, {"label": "Madison County unemployment", "value": "4.3%", "context": "August 2026, softer than metro-wide July figure"}, {"label": "Local manufacturing wage (metal/product cluster)", "value": "$98,012", "context": "avg. annual wage, 1,650 workers"}, {"label": "Statewide manufacturing employment change", "value": "-1.7%", "context": "past 12 months, Tennessee (TDLWD)"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Local joblessness runs above the state average.", "body": "Jackson's 3.9% unemployment rate compares to Tennessee's 3.4% statewide figure, an unusual gap for a metro inside one of the tightest state labor markets in the country. That slack may reflect the metro's slower 0.2% annual employment growth, with labor force participation holding steady."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing investment is arriving despite a statewide manufacturing contraction.", "body": "Siemens Healthineers, Sam Dong, and ArtiCast Jackson have announced a combined $64 million in local investment even as Tennessee manufacturing employment fell 1.7% over the past year. Commerce and economic development leaders should treat this as evidence the metro's industrial base is drawing capital even where the broader sector is contracting."}, {"headline": "Wage levels well below state and national medians may be doing real work.", "body": "Madison County's $57,114 average annual wage sits below Tennessee's already-discounted wage profile relative to the national average ($25.79/hour state vs. $30.19 national). Lower local wage costs appear to be part of what continues to draw capital-intensive manufacturing investment to the metro, a factor worth weighing in any business climate narrative."}, {"headline": "Customer service and administrative pay are climbing faster than most local roles.", "body": "Advertised pay for Customer Service Representatives rose significantly locally to $35,404, and Administrative Assistant pay rose moderately to $35,841 \u2014 among the sharpest local wage movements this month. These figures reflect job ads, a signal of hiring demand (one ad often covers several openings), and the pattern is consistent with employers across sectors competing more actively for office-support and service talent even as overall metro employment growth stays modest."}], "local_conditions": "Jackson's July 2026 unemployment rate of 3.9% sits a half-point below year-ago levels but still trails Tennessee's statewide 3.4%, a gap consistent with Madison County's softer 4.3% August reading and modest 0.2% annual employment growth. Manufacturing remains the metro's structural anchor \u2014 led by a Metal & Product cluster averaging $98,012 in annual wages \u2014 even as statewide manufacturing employment contracted 1.7% over the past year, a divergence that local capital investment announcements from Sam Dong, Siemens Healthineers, and ArtiCast Jackson appear to be offsetting.", "implications": "Divergence between Jackson's unemployment rate and the state's tighter 3.4% figure suggests the metro has more labor market slack than Tennessee overall, which is consistent with room for expansion-minded employers to find workers without the acute competition seen in Nashville or Chattanooth. Recent capital commitments \u2014 roughly $64 million combined across three announced projects \u2014 signal continued confidence in the metro's manufacturing and advanced-production base even as statewide manufacturing employment softens, a split worth tracking for site-selection and investment timing. Commerce leaders evaluating business climate signals should consider that local wage levels (Madison County average $57,114) sit well below Tennessee's already-below-national wage profile, a cost position that may continue to attract capital-intensive investment even if it complicates local purchasing power.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Data release to watch", "body": "October 2026 BLS metro-level unemployment figures for Jackson have not yet published; when released, they will show whether the July-to-October trend continued narrowing the gap with Tennessee's 3.4% statewide rate or widened it."}, {"category": "Investment follow-through", "body": "Announced projects from Siemens Healthineers, Sam Dong, and ArtiCast Jackson represent roughly 210 combined jobs on paper; watch for permitting, construction, and hiring timelines that would signal these commitments are converting into measurable local employment gains."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Statewide manufacturing employment fell 1.7% over the past year while Jackson's metal and product manufacturing cluster shows high average wages ($98,012); a continued state-local divergence would suggest the metro's industrial base is more resilient than Tennessee's broader manufacturing sector."}, {"category": "Policy signal", "body": "Tennessee's TNTalent program, backed by $5 million in federal funding for nuclear energy, AI infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing workforce development, may create downstream opportunities for Jackson-area training partnerships given the metro's existing manufacturing base."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22677.0, "metro_p50": 27109.6, "metro_p75": 30586.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24268.0, "metro_p50": 27040.0, "metro_p75": 29226.5, "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": 30436.0, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 41080.0, "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": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 80600.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30911.0, "metro_p50": 34292.8, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "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": 29525.5, "metro_p50": 38503.0, "metro_p75": 41034.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 49920.0, "metro_p50": 62500.0, "metro_p75": 71801.0, "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": 30403.0, "metro_p50": 34884.6, "metro_p75": 37987.25, "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": 32959.0, "metro_p50": 35404.0, "metro_p75": 37347.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 27231.0, "metro_p50": 30783.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "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": 30296.0, "metro_p50": 34320.0, "metro_p75": 37440.0, "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": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 35841.4, "metro_p75": 39150.0, "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": 61256.5, "metro_p50": 68593.4, "metro_p75": 72800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 78832.0, "metro_p50": 98862.4, "metro_p75": 105898.0, "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": 110570.0, "metro_p50": 149094.4, "metro_p75": 164580.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 90453.5, "metro_p50": 130000.0, "metro_p75": 145000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 54677.0, "metro_p50": 58739.2, "metro_p75": 62377.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 68990.0, "metro_p50": 88650.0, "metro_p75": 95190.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 53341.0, "metro_p50": 63836.0, "metro_p75": 73042.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 46800.0, "metro_p50": 61237.6, "metro_p75": 70836.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 63540.5, "metro_p50": 77927.6, "metro_p75": 84043.0, "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": 34230.0, "metro_p50": 55425.8, "metro_p75": 66550.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 56500.0, "metro_p50": 88266.0, "metro_p75": 94761.75, "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": 50422.0, "metro_p50": 63495.8, "metro_p75": 68684.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 76635.75, "metro_p50": 93600.0, "metro_p75": 105424.5, "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": 58569.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 32194.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 59739.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 55314.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 50108.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 56160.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 63225.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 31576.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 63068.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "USA Facts / Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Jackson, TN area unemployment rate was 3.9% in July 2026"}, {"source_name": "Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) / BLS", "source_url": null, "statement": "Madison County unemployment rate was 4.3% in August 2026"}, {"source_name": "Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development", "source_url": null, "statement": "Tennessee manufacturing jobs slipped 1.7% over past year"}, {"source_name": "Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development / local news", "source_url": null, "statement": "Siemens Healthineers, Sam Dong, ArtiCast Jackson investment announcements"}, {"source_name": "Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development", "source_url": null, "statement": "Tennessee unemployment rate held at 3.4% for three months"}, {"source_name": "State of Tennessee", "source_url": null, "statement": "TNTalent program launched with $5 million federal funding"}], "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": "jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:23:45.014318+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/jackson-tn-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}