{"schema_version": 1, "id": "lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 241, "label": "Lewiston, ID-WA MSA", "slug": "lewiston-id-wa-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:47:12.292079+00:00", "headline": "Lewiston payrolls contract as logistics pay outruns the metro.", "headline_summary": "Lewiston nonfarm employment fell 0.7% year-over-year even as CDL driver pay climbed to $81,614 and warehouse pay reached $43,680, both well above national medians.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro nonfarm employment change", "value": "-0.7%", "context": "Both month-over-month and year-over-year, Sept. 2026"}, {"label": "Nez Perce County unemployment", "value": "3.3%", "context": "Up from 3.2% in July; state rate 3.6%"}, {"label": "Initial unemployment claims (regional)", "value": "13/week", "context": "Down from 36/week in July 2025"}, {"label": "CDL Truck Driver advertised pay", "value": "$81,614", "context": "vs. $78,872 national median, up significantly"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Logistics and transport pay is pulling away from the pack.", "body": "CDL driver pay reached $81,614 (up significantly) and warehouse/fulfillment pay hit $43,680, both outpacing national medians by wide margins. This suggests the Port of Wilma corridor and regional freight activity remain a bright spot even as broader nonfarm employment contracts."}, {"headline": "Professional-services pay softness may track the sector's national slide.", "body": "Accountant pay fell to $49,920 and Business Analyst pay dropped to $93,409 locally, consistent with national declines in financial activities and professional services employment (-7,000 and -9,000 jobs respectively in September). A smaller metro like Lewiston may feel these national white-collar headwinds disproportionately given its thinner professional-services base."}, {"headline": "Falling college enrollment is a quiet constraint on the skilled-trade pipeline.", "body": "Lewis-Clark State College's 3.4% enrollment drop coincides with rising advertised pay for CNA/home health aide and HVAC technician roles, both up moderately to significantly. Commerce leaders weighing workforce-dependent investment decisions should treat this as an early signal."}, {"headline": "Falling claims alongside falling payrolls is an unusual pairing worth tracking.", "body": "Initial unemployment claims dropped to 13 weekly filings in July from 36 a year earlier, even as nonfarm jobs fell 0.7% year-over-year. The combination may suggest employers are managing headcount through attrition, a dynamic that dampens visible labor market stress without signaling expansion."}], "local_conditions": "Lewiston's nonfarm employment contracted 0.7% both month-over-month and year-over-year in September, even as Nez Perce County unemployment ticked up to 3.3% in August from 3.2% in July, pointing to a metro economy cooling modestly against a still-resilient national backdrop of 182,000 October payroll additions. Local wage divergence is stark: warehouse/fulfillment pay rose to $43,680 (up significantly) and CDL driver pay climbed to $81,614, while accountant pay fell to $49,920 and teacher pay dropped to $38,615 \u2014 a pattern consistent with tight competition for logistics and transport labor alongside softening demand in professional and education roles.", "implications": "Divergent local wage trends \u2014 transportation and healthcare aide pay climbing while accounting, data engineering, and teaching pay soften \u2014 suggest the metro's economic momentum is concentrated in logistics, healthcare, and skilled trades. For commerce leaders assessing expansion timing, falling Lewis-Clark State College enrollment (down 3.4%) alongside rising advertised pay in CNA/home health ($49,061, up significantly) points to a tightening pipeline for credentialed and trade talent even as white-collar segments show slack. Government economists tracking labor force participation should note the metro's declining nonfarm payrolls alongside falling initial unemployment claims (13/week vs. 36 a year ago) \u2014 a combination that may reflect fewer layoffs amid otherwise soft job creation. Consider monitoring whether the St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center ownership transition to Lifepoint Health, now closed, affects the pace of healthcare-sector wage growth locally in coming months.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Nez Perce County unemployment has risen two consecutive months (3.2% to 3.3%); a third consecutive increase would mark a clearer cooling trend worth flagging for regional economic development planning."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Agpro Marketing & Manufacturing's relocation from Lewiston to the Port of Wilma in Clarkston, WA signals continued cross-border industrial activity within the metro; watch for additional facility moves that redistribute employment across the Idaho-Washington line without necessarily reducing metro-wide job counts."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Healthcare wage trends bear watching following the completed Lifepoint Health acquisition of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, one of the region's top 10 employers; ownership transitions at major local institutions can shift compensation patterns across the broader healthcare labor pool."}, {"category": "Policy-relevant", "body": "National labor force participation rose to 61.8% while Idaho's fell to 61.4% and Lewiston-area dynamics remain murky at the metro level; government economists should watch whether the next county-level release clarifies whether local participation is tracking the state's decline or diverging."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 35932.0, "metro_p75": 42382.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 33340.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30717.0, "metro_p50": 35630.0, "metro_p75": 35630.0, "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": 39520.0, "metro_p50": 43680.0, "metro_p75": 43680.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 38480.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60000.0, "metro_p50": 81614.0, "metro_p75": 83200.0, "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": 33699.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 42900.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34826.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 44720.0, "metro_p50": 47632.0, "metro_p75": 67600.0, "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": 78147.5, "metro_p50": 83376.6, "metro_p75": 87192.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 36530.0, "metro_p50": 44720.0, "metro_p75": 46800.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 31221.75, "metro_p50": 37470.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 28050.5, "metro_p50": 32240.0, "metro_p75": 34091.0, "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": 37332.0, "metro_p50": 49061.0, "metro_p75": 66560.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 39404.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 43680.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 58096.5, "metro_p50": 70720.0, "metro_p75": 80000.0, "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": 85734.0, "metro_p50": 116324.0, "metro_p75": 129064.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 116624.0, "metro_p50": 153081.0, "metro_p75": 171515.0, "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": 85520.0, "metro_p50": 120577.6, "metro_p75": 136639.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 46800.0, "metro_p50": 49920.0, "metro_p75": 51190.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 73487.0, "metro_p50": 93727.8, "metro_p75": 95577.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 51972.0, "metro_p50": 64961.0, "metro_p75": 71500.0, "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": 46928.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 75435.75, "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": 70709.0, "metro_p50": 77612.0, "metro_p75": 82054.5, "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": 35380.5, "metro_p50": 38615.0, "metro_p75": 39634.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 66436.0, "metro_p50": 100000.0, "metro_p75": 116866.5, "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": 70000.0, "metro_p50": 70000.0, "metro_p75": 70000.0, "metro_trend_direction": null, "metro_trend_magnitude": null, "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 76181.0, "metro_p50": 93408.8, "metro_p75": 103094.0, "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": 53040.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 45666.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 42357.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 53201.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 136832.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 47060.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 61300.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 58958.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 37710.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 65140.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Lewiston nonfarm jobs fell 0.7% month-over-month and year-over-year in September"}, {"source_name": "Federal Reserve Economic Data / BLS", "source_url": null, "statement": "Nez Perce County unemployment rate at 3.3% in August 2026"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor LMI", "source_url": null, "statement": "Lewis-Clark State College Fall 2026 enrollment dropped 3.4%"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor LMI", "source_url": null, "statement": "Lifepoint Health acquisition of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "National professional/business services lost 9,000 jobs, financial activities -7,000 in September"}, {"source_name": "Idaho Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Initial unemployment claims averaged 13/week in July 2026 vs 36/week in July 2025"}], "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": "lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:25:03.714371+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/lewiston-id-wa-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}