{"schema_version": 1, "id": "miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 291, "label": "Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL MSA", "slug": "miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:51:22.167082+00:00", "headline": "Miami-Dade's jobless rate hits 1.9% as statewide growth stalls", "headline_summary": "Miami-Dade's unemployment rate fell to 1.9% in September, a full point below year-ago levels and far under Florida's 4.4%, even as the state recorded no meaningful payroll growth and ranked last nationally for job creation.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Miami-Dade unemployment rate", "value": "1.9%", "context": "vs 4.4% Florida, 4.1% national (Sept. 2026)"}, {"label": "Miami-area Financial Activities jobs", "value": "-4,400", "context": "year-over-year loss, Sept. 2026"}, {"label": "Florida employment growth rank", "value": "50th of 50 states", "context": "WalletHub 2026 ranking despite falling jobless rate"}, {"label": "Metro compensation cost growth", "value": "3.6%", "context": "year ending June 2026, private industry"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Miami-Dade's unemployment rate is the tightest in Florida.", "body": "At 1.9% in September, down a full point year-over-year, Miami-Dade sits well below the state's 4.4% and the nation's 4.1%. That gap signals a local labor pool already stretched thin relative to peer Florida metros, a relevant input for any expansion decision weighing where to locate new operations."}, {"headline": "Financial Activities losses complicate the growth narrative.", "body": "Miami-area Financial Activities employment fell by 4,400 jobs over the year, echoing a national pattern where finance and information sectors have been flat or shrinking. A low headline unemployment rate can mask sector-specific contraction that matters for commercial real estate and office-market planning."}, {"headline": "Construction pay signals a structural constraint.", "body": "Metro construction laborer pay has held flat while the national figure moved up moderately, even as Florida construction firms report that immigration enforcement activity is straining the labor pool and that 41% of the trade's workforce is expected to retire by 2031. Flat local pay despite acute scarcity may suggest employers are absorbing margin pressure instead of bidding up wages yet."}, {"headline": "Operations Manager pay jumped more than almost any other tracked role.", "body": "Metro Operations Manager advertised pay rose significantly this month, even as the national figure held steady \u2014 an unusual local premium. That divergence is consistent with employers paying up for execution talent as logistics and distribution activity expands across the metro's ports and warehousing corridors."}], "local_conditions": "Miami-Dade County's unemployment rate fell to 1.9% in September, a full point below year-ago levels and well under Florida's 4.4% and the national 4.1%, even as statewide payroll counts showed little net change and the state ranks last nationally for employment growth. Sector divergence is sharp at the metro level: health care and professional services continue adding positions statewide while Financial Activities shed 4,400 Miami-area jobs over the year and Government lost 1,500, a pattern consistent with a local economy where labor scarcity is the binding constraint.", "implications": "Falling unemployment paired with flat statewide payrolls points to a labor-supply story \u2014 commerce and economic development leaders evaluating expansion or relocation incentives should treat Miami-Dade's 1.9% rate as a signal of tight availability, particularly in construction and logistics where national data show advertised pay for construction laborers rising while Miami's stays flat. Compensation increases in the metro's Operations Manager and Registered Nurse categories suggest employers are already competing on pay in functions tied to growth, a dynamic that commerce leaders should factor into site-selection and workforce-pipeline conversations. Consider evaluating whether local workforce development partnerships adequately address the construction and logistics labor pool before courting new capital projects that depend on it.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Miami-Dade's unemployment rate has fallen for four straight months statewide while payrolls stayed flat \u2014 watch whether October/November data show the rate bottoming out, which would indicate the labor pool has little further slack to absorb new investment."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Construction trade groups report immigration enforcement is tightening labor supply at the same time only 6% of young adults express interest in the trades. Commerce and development leaders backing infrastructure or housing projects should track whether bid timelines or costs start reflecting that scarcity."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Financial Activities has now lost jobs locally for a full year; watch whether this reflects consolidation among established firms or a broader pullback that could affect downtown Miami and Brickell office demand."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Florida's minimum wage moved to $15.00/hour on September 30 \u2014 the first full month of data covering this change should clarify whether it has measurably affected advertised pay for retail, food service, and hospitality roles across the metro."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28909.0, "metro_p50": 34158.0, "metro_p75": 37950.0, "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": 28346.0, "metro_p50": 31544.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "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": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 37983.0, "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": 49176.0, "metro_p50": 82500.0, "metro_p75": 105950.0, "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": 30240.0, "metro_p50": 33296.0, "metro_p75": 40560.0, "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": 33257.0, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 41600.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 53040.0, "metro_p50": 62409.0, "metro_p75": 68867.25, "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": 31356.25, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 33904.0, "metro_p50": 40449.0, "metro_p75": 45625.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 29384.0, "metro_p50": 33009.0, "metro_p75": 35755.0, "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": 32240.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 38511.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 36157.0, "metro_p50": 42635.0, "metro_p75": 46974.0, "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": 54616.75, "metro_p50": 65426.0, "metro_p75": 71698.0, "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": 79768.0, "metro_p50": 94192.6, "metro_p75": 100176.0, "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": 105000.0, "metro_p50": 149731.2, "metro_p75": 168140.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 99359.0, "metro_p50": 133205.0, "metro_p75": 152512.0, "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": 61825.0, "metro_p50": 73263.6, "metro_p75": 81297.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 72000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72756.0, "metro_p50": 87223.0, "metro_p75": 98007.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 55089.0, "metro_p50": 66536.0, "metro_p75": 75000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 49590.0, "metro_p50": 62500.0, "metro_p75": 69864.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 59365.75, "metro_p50": 78758.2, "metro_p75": 87000.0, "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": 36000.0, "metro_p50": 51830.0, "metro_p75": 56994.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 64496.0, "metro_p50": 85412.0, "metro_p75": 100000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 94009.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 43680.0, "metro_p50": 63604.8, "metro_p75": 65000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 79344.0, "metro_p50": 93230.0, "metro_p75": 105694.0, "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": 64000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 75000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 37395.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 58054.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 77129.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "stable", "postings_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 73172.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 70720.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 60000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "stable", "postings_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 36400.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 67641.0, "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": "November 2026", "files": {"html": "miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:26:03.205747+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/miami-fort-lauderdale-pompano-beach-fl-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}