{"schema_version": 1, "id": "new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 392, "label": "New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA MSA", "slug": "new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T07:54:57.014315+00:00", "headline": "New Orleans jobs slip as unemployment holds nears cycle lows.", "headline_summary": "Metro unemployment held at 3.9% in August even as nonfarm payrolls fell 700 in September, with construction up 9.6% offsetting a 3.6% decline in leisure and hospitality.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "3.9%", "context": "vs 4.1% national, Aug 2026"}, {"label": "Metro job change, September", "value": "-700 jobs", "context": "reversal from +2,500 in August"}, {"label": "Construction employment growth", "value": "+9.6%", "context": "over half of LA's annual job gains statewide"}, {"label": "Metro avg weekly wage, Q1 2026", "value": "$1,428", "context": "vs $1,654 U.S. average"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Low unemployment coexists with falling payrolls.", "body": "Metro unemployment sat at 3.9% in August, well below the 4.1% national rate, yet nonfarm employment fell in September for the second time in three months. That combination is consistent with a labor force that is shrinking or exiting, a distinction that matters for any read on local economic health."}, {"headline": "Construction is doing the heavy lifting for growth.", "body": "Construction employment rose 9.6% locally and accounted for more than half of Louisiana's statewide job gains over the year. The pending Louisiana International Terminal project in St. Bernard Parish and continued construction momentum suggest this sector will remain the metro's primary growth engine into 2027."}, {"headline": "Tourism-dependent sectors are pulling the metro average down.", "body": "Leisure and hospitality employment fell 3.6% even as education, health services, and government posted gains of 1.2%-2.2%. Convention and visitor volume softness appears to be a drag concentrated in one sector, a distinction commerce leaders should weight when reading headline job-loss numbers."}, {"headline": "Wages are rising locally even as job counts fall.", "body": "Orleans Parish wages grew 4.2% over the year despite the parish's employment decline \u2014 a pattern consistent with labor scarcity. Metro weekly wages remain well below the national average ($1,428 versus $1,654), which may keep the metro cost-competitive for employers weighing site decisions even as local wage growth outpaces the national trend."}], "local_conditions": "New Orleans metro employment stood at 474,400 in September, down 700 jobs from August and a reversal from August's 2,500-job gain, even as the unemployment rate held near a cycle low at 3.9% in August against 4.1% nationally. Construction continues to carry the metro's growth story statewide (up 9.6% locally and accounting for more than half of Louisiana's annual job gains), while leisure and hospitality fell 3.6% and Orleans Parish posted the sharpest parish-level employment decline in the state at -1.1% through March, consistent with a slower pace of convention and tourism activity post-pandemic.", "implications": "Low unemployment paired with monthly job losses points to a metro where labor is scarce relative to demand even as overall headcount growth stalls \u2014 a signal that local capacity constraints are shaping the slowdown. Commerce leaders weighing expansion or site-location decisions should treat the Louisiana International Terminal's pending $2.6 billion investment in St. Bernard Parish as a leading indicator of where labor demand will concentrate next, since construction has already absorbed most of the state's net job growth this year. Current conditions suggest government economists and chamber leaders track parish-level divergence closely, since Orleans Parish's employment decline alongside rising wages (+4.2%) describes a tightening local labor supply.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Formal construction start on the $2.6 billion Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish, expected by year-end, would mark a tangible test of whether the metro's construction-led growth story converts into broader economic activity across logistics and supplier sectors."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "September's 700-job decline follows August's 2,500-job gain; whether October data (due mid-to-late November) confirms a trend or reflects monthly noise will shape how government economists characterize the metro's trajectory heading into 2027."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Leisure and hospitality's 3.6% decline bears watching against convention calendar activity and visitor spending data, since continued softness there could offset gains from construction and public-sector stability in the metro's aggregate numbers."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Orleans Parish's -1.1% employment trend alongside rising wages is a combination worth tracking parish-by-parish; if it spreads to Jefferson or St. Tammany, it would suggest a metro-wide labor supply constraint beyond a localized Orleans Parish dynamic."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22219.0, "metro_p50": 29120.0, "metro_p75": 33290.0, "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": 22880.0, "metro_p50": 27175.0, "metro_p75": 29452.5, "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": 29361.5, "metro_p50": 34195.0, "metro_p75": 36400.0, "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": 53727.0, "metro_p50": 79914.6, "metro_p75": 93600.0, "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": 26033.0, "metro_p50": 30061.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "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": 28560.0, "metro_p50": 34772.8, "metro_p75": 35905.0, "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": 51938.5, "metro_p50": 62836.4, "metro_p75": 69546.0, "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": 30145.0, "metro_p50": 36572.8, "metro_p75": 39291.0, "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": 32980.0, "metro_p50": 37440.0, "metro_p75": 40555.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 25827.25, "metro_p50": 31200.0, "metro_p75": 31895.5, "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": 30886.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 38725.0, "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": 33333.0, "metro_p50": 40378.0, "metro_p75": 43739.5, "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": 50336.5, "metro_p50": 63555.8, "metro_p75": 70377.0, "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": 88982.5, "metro_p50": 101712.0, "metro_p75": 114598.5, "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": 101746.0, "metro_p50": 139911.0, "metro_p75": 153371.0, "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": 101341.0, "metro_p50": 139500.0, "metro_p75": 154265.0, "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": 54102.0, "metro_p50": 62410.0, "metro_p75": 70000.0, "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": 61763.5, "metro_p50": 75000.0, "metro_p75": 84582.0, "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": 47500.0, "metro_p50": 60000.0, "metro_p75": 65160.0, "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": 50000.0, "metro_p50": 65000.0, "metro_p75": 75110.0, "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": 59817.0, "metro_p50": 88000.0, "metro_p75": 92750.0, "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": 35577.0, "metro_p50": 54618.0, "metro_p75": 60918.0, "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": 60000.0, "metro_p50": 87221.0, "metro_p75": 108358.0, "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": 45000.0, "metro_p50": 45000.0, "metro_p75": 59133.0, "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": 69490.0, "metro_p50": 84695.2, "metro_p75": 93858.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 73263.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 76485.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 34613.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 66331.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 77177.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 53030.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 61526.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 65339.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 31243.5, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 63091.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "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": "new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:27:06.296886+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/new-orleans-metairie-kenner-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}