{"schema_version": 1, "id": "owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 300, "label": "Owensboro, KY MSA", "slug": "owensboro-ky-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:41:47.057910+00:00", "headline": "Owensboro's jobless rate defies state and national softening.", "headline_summary": "Daviess County unemployment held at 3% in July versus Kentucky's 4.7% and the nation's 4.1%, even as construction and manufacturing pay locally outpaces flat national trends in those sectors.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Daviess County unemployment", "value": "3.0%", "context": "vs 4.7% KY, 4.1% national (July 2026)"}, {"label": "Kentucky unemployment rate", "value": "4.7%", "context": "Unchanged in August; above 4.1% national rate"}, {"label": "National wage growth vs. inflation", "value": "3.0% vs 3.4%", "context": "Weakest wage pace since May 2021"}, {"label": "Metro mean hourly wage", "value": "$26.03", "context": "vs $33.54 national average (May 2025)"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Owensboro's jobless rate is a genuine outlier, not noise.", "body": "Daviess County's 3% July rate sits nearly two points below Kentucky's statewide 4.7% and comfortably under the 4.1% national rate, a gap wide enough to reflect structural tightness rather than seasonal variation. That positions the metro as comparatively resilient at a moment when national payroll growth has decelerated to 29,000 jobs in September."}, {"headline": "Construction and manufacturing pay gains suggest localized capital investment.", "body": "Construction laborer pay is up significantly to $36,608 and manufacturing production worker pay rose to $39,520 locally, both outpacing flat national trends in those same roles. The pattern is consistent with active building or production expansion in the metro rather than a broad-based wage cycle."}, {"headline": "Administrative and care-sector pay softness cuts against the tight-labor-market story.", "body": "Office clerical pay fell significantly and CNA/home health aide pay declined moderately even as the county unemployment rate stayed low, an inconsistency worth flagging rather than smoothing over. Kentucky's Medicaid funding changes beginning in 2027 add a forward-looking reason to watch health-sector pay and staffing more closely."}, {"headline": "Metro wages still trail national levels across nearly every category.", "body": "Owensboro's mean hourly wage of $26.03 remains well below the $33.54 national average, and most advertised roles in the local basket sit meaningfully under their national counterparts. Persistent gap matters for cost-of-living and relocation conversations local economic development officials field from prospective employers."}], "local_conditions": "Daviess County's unemployment rate held at 3% in July, roughly a third below Kentucky's statewide 4.7% rate, consistent with an MSA labor market that continues to run tighter than both state and national benchmarks even as national job growth has slowed sharply. That tightness coexists with uneven pay signals across the metro's advertised job basket \u2014 manufacturing and construction wages rising significantly while administrative, food service, and health-aide postings show notable declines \u2014 suggesting a local economy still adding workers at the margin but redistributing pay growth unevenly across sectors.", "implications": "Local wage divergence \u2014 construction labor up significantly, manufacturing production pay up, while office clerical and health aide postings trend down \u2014 points to a two-speed metro economy where goods-producing and skilled trades sectors are absorbing available labor faster than service and administrative functions. For chambers and economic development leaders assessing business climate, a sub-4% county jobless rate alongside stalled national job creation (29,000 added in September, well below the 45,000 trailing average) suggests Owensboro's relative tightness is a local strength worth highlighting to prospective employers, even as softening in administrative and care-sector pay warrants monitoring for broader demand signals. Consider tracking whether Daviess County's manufacturing and construction pay gains reflect new facility investment or project-specific activity before characterizing them as durable momentum.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected release", "body": "BLS is expected to publish official September 2026 Owensboro MSA data around October 29. Confirming whether the 3% county rate held through September will clarify if tightness is durable or a summer snapshot."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Kentucky's federal Medicaid funding changes take effect in 2027 and threaten health care employment, one of the state's few consistent growth sectors over the past two years. Local health systems' hiring posture over the next two months may offer an early read on how providers are positioning."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Kentucky's labor force grew for a third straight month in August after five months of decline, per UK's Center for Business and Economic Research. Whether Daviess County mirrors that statewide re-entry trend will shape how tight the local labor supply actually is heading into winter."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "National wage growth has slipped to 3.0% against 3.4% inflation, the weakest pace since May 2021. If that gap persists, local consumer spending and retail activity in Owensboro could soften even if the county's headline unemployment rate stays low."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20371.0, "metro_p50": 26000.0, "metro_p75": 30011.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22824.0, "metro_p50": 25866.2, "metro_p75": 27275.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28182.25, "metro_p50": 34195.0, "metro_p75": 35432.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59814.0, "metro_p50": 81531.4, "metro_p75": 95286.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26000.0, "metro_p50": 30167.0, "metro_p75": 33501.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 36608.0, "metro_p75": 39350.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60201.0, "metro_p50": 72384.0, "metro_p75": 72800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27560.0, "metro_p50": 39520.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28279.75, "metro_p50": 31040.4, "metro_p75": 34540.5, "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": 26493.0, "metro_p50": 26696.0, "metro_p75": 27302.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30705.0, "metro_p50": 34950.0, "metro_p75": 37960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30160.0, "metro_p50": 34320.0, "metro_p75": 35892.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 59631.5, "metro_p50": 60000.0, "metro_p75": 60120.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72854.5, "metro_p50": 81828.0, "metro_p75": 90922.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 112936.0, "metro_p50": 139555.0, "metro_p75": 139694.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 99173.5, "metro_p50": 141235.0, "metro_p75": 158888.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 46611.75, "metro_p50": 54633.6, "metro_p75": 55000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 63794.0, "metro_p50": 83979.0, "metro_p75": 87240.25, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 50805.5, "metro_p50": 70000.0, "metro_p75": 82500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 43913.0, "metro_p50": 58052.0, "metro_p75": 70114.5, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 72767.5, "metro_p50": 77500.0, "metro_p75": 92157.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26967.0, "metro_p50": 43751.0, "metro_p75": 48355.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 70629.5, "metro_p50": 80000.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 51071.0, "metro_p50": 74500.0, "metro_p75": 74500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 80081.0, "metro_p50": 95705.0, "metro_p75": 107936.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 67543.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 62400.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 31794.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 68000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 78727.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 62500.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 51940.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 46404.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 27040.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 64736.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "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": "October 2026", "files": {"html": "owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T14:34:29.000627+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/owensboro-ky-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}