{"schema_version": 1, "id": "lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 261, "label": "Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ MSA", "slug": "lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:50:26.927199+00:00", "headline": "Lake Havasu's jobless rate falls as its labor force shrinks.", "headline_summary": "Unemployment eased to 5.9% in September from 6.9% in August, but the civilian labor force contracted 4.5% year-over-year, even as metro median pay climbed 4.5% to $44,230.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "5.9%", "context": "Down from 6.9% in August; vs 4.2% national"}, {"label": "Civilian labor force, YoY change", "value": "-4.5%", "context": "85,300 persons, Sept 2026"}, {"label": "Metro median wage growth", "value": "+4.5%", "context": "$42,320 to $44,230, May 2024-May 2025"}, {"label": "Construction employment change", "value": "-7% (-400 jobs)", "context": "July 2025 to July 2026"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Falling unemployment masks a shrinking labor pool.", "body": "September's rate improvement to 5.9% coincided with a 4.5% year-over-year decline in both civilian labor force and total employment. That combination is consistent with people exiting the workforce or leaving the metro, a signal that points away from expanding economic activity."}, {"headline": "Construction retreats while logistics pay accelerates.", "body": "Construction employment fell 7% over the past year, but CDL truck driver pay rose significantly to a metro median of $83,215 against a national median of $78,872. Goods-movement activity appears to be absorbing demand even as building slows, a divergence worth tracking for infrastructure and permitting planning."}, {"headline": "Wage growth outpaces the state despite thinner job base.", "body": "Metro median pay rose 4.5% year-over-year to $44,230, outpacing Arizona's statewide private-sector gain of 4.61% only marginally but holding up against a backdrop of labor force contraction. Pay growth without matching workforce growth raises questions about whether current wage levels are sustainable if the labor pool keeps shrinking."}, {"headline": "Office and professional pay softness diverges from frontline strength.", "body": "Administrative assistant pay fell moderately to $39,084 and financial analyst pay fell moderately to $84,749 locally, while registered nurse pay rose moderately to $104,817 and CNA/home health aide pay rose moderately to $41,600. Divergence suggests healthcare and frontline service demand remains firmer locally than office-based professional activity."}], "local_conditions": "Lake Havasu City-Kingman's unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in September from 6.9% in August, yet the civilian labor force and total employment both contracted 4.5% year-over-year, a pattern consistent with workers leaving the labor market as the primary driver, rather than a durable hiring rebound. Construction employment dropped 7% (-400 jobs) over the past year while metro-wide median pay rose 4.5% to $44,230, suggesting wage gains are concentrated in sectors still competing for a shrinking available workforce, a dynamic distinct from broad-based economic acceleration.", "implications": "Shrinking labor force alongside falling unemployment points to population or participation attrition as the metro's defining constraint, a structural issue economic development planners and chambers should weigh more heavily than the headline unemployment improvement suggests. Construction softness paired with CDL driver pay up significantly (Metro Median $83,215) indicates commerce activity tied to logistics and goods movement remains resilient even as building activity cools. Current conditions suggest local economic development and workforce planning bodies should track labor force participation alongside unemployment, since the unemployment figure alone understates the tightness local employers may face if they look to expand.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Watch whether Mohave County's civilian labor force stabilizes or continues contracting in the next two monthly reports. Continued shrinkage alongside falling unemployment would reinforce a population or participation story and raise doubts about a durable hiring recovery."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Construction employment has lost 400 jobs over the past year; any further WARN filings or permit data softness would confirm a multi-quarter downturn relevant to local development and infrastructure timelines."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Statewide, Arizona labor force participation has declined seven consecutive months. If that trend reaches Mohave County in coming reports, it would sharpen questions about long-term workforce capacity for any metro business expansion."}, {"category": "Expected", "body": "National healthcare hiring strength and rising local CNA and RN pay suggest the sector will likely continue outperforming retail and hospitality locally, consistent with statewide health employment gains of 3.1% year-over-year."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27746.0, "metro_p50": 31512.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28531.5, "metro_p50": 32240.0, "metro_p75": 33297.5, "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": 32082.5, "metro_p50": 35479.0, "metro_p75": 37571.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38480.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 62659.0, "metro_p50": 83215.0, "metro_p75": 93197.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30189.0, "metro_p50": 32636.0, "metro_p75": 34093.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34826.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35100.0, "metro_p50": 39267.6, "metro_p75": 40955.5, "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": 54029.0, "metro_p50": 72800.0, "metro_p75": 83200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 33800.0, "metro_p50": 36736.6, "metro_p75": 38348.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31657.0, "metro_p50": 37291.8, "metro_p75": 41228.5, "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": 30189.0, "metro_p50": 34342.8, "metro_p75": 34955.75, "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": 36172.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 45760.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 34112.0, "metro_p50": 39083.6, "metro_p75": 42322.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58896.0, "metro_p50": 67437.0, "metro_p75": 72800.0, "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": 87046.5, "metro_p50": 104817.0, "metro_p75": 116165.25, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 99696.75, "metro_p50": 127140.4, "metro_p75": 148144.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 97314.0, "metro_p50": 130670.4, "metro_p75": 148712.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58889.25, "metro_p50": 77496.0, "metro_p75": 86521.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 69420.75, "metro_p50": 84749.2, "metro_p75": 90605.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 34706.0, "metro_p50": 60247.0, "metro_p75": 74465.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 42405.0, "metro_p50": 54293.0, "metro_p75": 62962.0, "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": 70257.0, "metro_p50": 100592.0, "metro_p75": 112476.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 35147.0, "metro_p50": 50705.0, "metro_p75": 55940.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 65000.0, "metro_p50": 85634.0, "metro_p75": 100000.0, "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": 48452.5, "metro_p50": 59500.0, "metro_p75": 64141.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72697.0, "metro_p50": 85486.0, "metro_p75": 85486.0, "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": 50467.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 89036.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 37835.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 61254.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 115209.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 55239.5, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 99424.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 89473.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 33553.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 65894.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity", "source_url": null, "statement": "Metro unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in September from 6.9% in August"}, {"source_name": "Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity", "source_url": null, "statement": "Civilian labor force and employment each fell 4.5% year-over-year"}, {"source_name": "Associated General Contractors of America", "source_url": null, "statement": "Construction employment fell 7% (-400 jobs) July 2025-July 2026"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Metro all-occupations median wage rose 4.5% to $44,230"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics / Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity", "source_url": null, "statement": "Arizona labor force participation declined seven consecutive months"}, {"source_name": "Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity", "source_url": null, "statement": "Arizona private sector wages rose 4.61% year-over-year to $36.54/hour"}], "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": "lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:24:40.721838+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lake-havasu-city-kingman-az-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}