{"schema_version": 1, "id": "lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 336, "label": "Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA", "slug": "lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:46:49.746470+00:00", "headline": "Lansing's falling jobless rate hides a shrinking workforce.", "headline_summary": "Lansing's unemployment rate eased to 4.6% in August even as the labor force contracted 10.2% by September \u2014 the steepest decline among Michigan's metros \u2014 while healthcare job ads and nurse pay (up to $97,695) point to the one sector still expanding.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Lansing MSA labor force change", "value": "-10.2%", "context": "Year-over-year, Sept. 2026 \u2014 largest decline statewide"}, {"label": "Lansing MSA unemployment rate", "value": "4.6%", "context": "Aug. 2026, down from 4.9% a year earlier"}, {"label": "Michigan unemployment rate", "value": "5.0%", "context": "0.8 pts above U.S. rate of 4.2%"}, {"label": "Dakkota Integrated Systems closure", "value": "67 jobs", "context": "Grove Road facility, effective Dec. 31, 2026"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Falling unemployment is a labor-supply story.", "body": "Lansing's jobless rate dropped to 4.6% in August even as the labor force shrank 7.9% and employment fell 7.6% year-over-year \u2014 the state's steepest declines. Treating the lower unemployment number as a sign of acceleration would misread what is actually a shrinking labor pool."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing softness compounds a statewide trend.", "body": "Dakkota's 67-job Grove Road closure adds to a Michigan WARN picture already concentrated in manufacturing and automotive, even as total state WARN activity is down 33% from 2025. Local manufacturing job ads and wage figures (Production Worker/Assembler flat at $35,340) suggest the sector is stabilizing in pay terms while still shedding positions."}, {"headline": "Healthcare remains the metro's clearest demand signal.", "body": "Registered Nurse postings lead local job ads, a signal of hiring demand (one ad often covers several openings), with the highest volume reported this month, and advertised RN pay rose to a metro median of $97,695 \u2014 a significant year-over-year gain outpacing most other tracked roles. That combination points to healthcare as the sector least affected by the metro's broader labor force contraction."}, {"headline": "Wage gains are trailing inflation locally and nationally.", "body": "National median weekly earnings rose 1.5% against 3.5% CPI growth in Q3, and Michigan's statewide wage growth of 3.3% trails the 3.7% Indeed Wage Tracker inflation estimate. For Lansing consumers and local retailers, that gap signals continued pressure on discretionary spending even where local wages (Accountant, Electrician, HVAC Technician) are rising."}], "local_conditions": "Lansing's headline unemployment rate improved to 4.6% in August, yet that figure masks a labor force that contracted 7.9% over the year and an employed population down 7.6% \u2014 a pattern state analysts attribute to workers exiting the labor market, and one that deepened further by September with a 10.2% year-over-year labor force decline, the steepest of any Michigan metro. Dakkota Integrated Systems' announced closure of its Grove Road facility, cutting 67 jobs by year-end, adds to manufacturing-sector strain already visible in statewide WARN filings, while Michigan State University and healthcare employers continue to post the metro's highest volumes of job ads, a signal of hiring demand (one ad often covers several openings) concentrated in education and patient care even as other sectors soften.", "implications": "Shrinking labor force participation is driving Lansing's improved unemployment optics \u2014 a distinction that matters for how commerce leaders read local economic health and for how government economists calibrate workforce development priorities. Advertised pay for registered nurses (up, metro median $97,695) and electricians (up, $72,530) suggests employers in healthcare and skilled trades are competing for a visibly thinning pool of available workers, a constraint that bears on expansion timing for any employer considering a Lansing footprint. Commerce and economic development leaders should consider workforce participation as the more useful local indicator to track and communicate when assessing business climate.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Watch whether the Lansing MSA's labor force decline (10.2% year-over-year in September) continues into October's data release \u2014 a third consecutive month of acceleration would suggest a structural shift in regional workforce participation beyond a temporary dip."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Dakkota's December 31 closure date means the 67 affected workers will enter the local labor pool just as year-end hiring typically slows; whether they appear in other manufacturing job ads locally will test whether the sector can absorb displaced workers."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Michigan State University's 220 open positions and strong healthcare job ad volume suggest institutional and public-sector employers are anchoring local demand; any change in state higher-education funding or hospital system staffing plans would ripple disproportionately through Lansing given this concentration."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "National federal employment is near 1966 lows amid deferred resignations and early retirements; Lansing's public-sector stability has been a relative strength, so any signal of state government hiring freezes or attrition would be a meaningful departure from the current pattern."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24910.0, "metro_p50": 30638.0, "metro_p75": 35360.0, "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": 26126.0, "metro_p50": 30335.0, "metro_p75": 31743.0, "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": 31553.0, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 60308.0, "metro_p50": 78000.0, "metro_p75": 86320.0, "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": 29487.0, "metro_p50": 33090.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 33259.5, "metro_p50": 39520.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "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": 55917.0, "metro_p50": 72530.0, "metro_p75": 79832.0, "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": 30892.0, "metro_p50": 35340.0, "metro_p75": 38855.0, "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": 34179.75, "metro_p50": 38925.0, "metro_p75": 42419.0, "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": 27691.0, "metro_p50": 31200.0, "metro_p75": 32240.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33764.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31545.0, "metro_p50": 36660.0, "metro_p75": 42640.0, "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": 30044.5, "metro_p50": 40040.0, "metro_p75": 44839.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57916.0, "metro_p50": 63033.0, "metro_p75": 67358.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 80553.0, "metro_p50": 97695.0, "metro_p75": 104575.0, "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": 122050.0, "metro_p50": 155143.0, "metro_p75": 172905.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 99151.0, "metro_p50": 139007.0, "metro_p75": 157459.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58444.5, "metro_p50": 69359.6, "metro_p75": 76524.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 71201.0, "metro_p50": 90000.0, "metro_p75": 102750.0, "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": 52916.0, "metro_p50": 72450.0, "metro_p75": 83567.0, "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": 43355.0, "metro_p50": 57463.4, "metro_p75": 70334.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 62916.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 60000.0, "metro_p50": 75349.0, "metro_p75": 92183.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 45895.5, "metro_p50": 59355.6, "metro_p75": 64080.5, "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": 63931.0, "metro_p50": 98500.0, "metro_p75": 119682.5, "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": 43753.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 65000.0, "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": 72091.5, "metro_p50": 92320.8, "metro_p75": 105000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 85350.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 110448.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 56160.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 60799.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 137325.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 102992.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 87651.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 70971.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 33280.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66133.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "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": "November 2026", "files": {"html": "lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:24:46.930187+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lansing-east-lansing-mi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}