{"schema_version": 1, "id": "racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 381, "label": "Racine, WI MSA", "slug": "racine-wi-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T08:00:31.445398+00:00", "headline": "Racine wages climb as county employment contracts", "headline_summary": "Racine County unemployment reached 4.1% in August against Wisconsin's 3.2% statewide rate, even as local wages grew 3.8% year-over-year \u2014 a divergence that signals cost pressure more than economic strength.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Racine County unemployment", "value": "4.1%", "context": "vs 3.2% Wisconsin statewide, Aug. 2026"}, {"label": "Racine wage growth", "value": "3.8%", "context": "Q1 2026 YoY, highest among major WI counties"}, {"label": "Racine County employment decline", "value": "-1.5%", "context": "YoY, Dec. 2025, largest among major WI counties"}, {"label": "Wisconsin real wage growth", "value": "-5.1%", "context": "YoY, steepest decline of any state"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Wage growth and job losses are moving together.", "body": "Racine County posted 3.8% wage growth in Q1 while logging the state's largest year-over-year employment decline (-1.5%) in December. That combination is consistent with a shrinking, more concentrated workforce commanding higher pay."}, {"headline": "Racine's unemployment gap with the state is widening.", "body": "County unemployment reached 4.1% in August against Wisconsin's statewide 3.2%, placing Racine among the state's highest-unemployment counties. The divergence suggests local softening is outpacing the statewide trend, a distinction state-level averages can mask for commerce planning purposes."}, {"headline": "Manufacturing softness is a metro-specific risk.", "body": "Wisconsin manufacturing employment is forecast roughly 1.3% below year-ago levels by October, and statewide manufacturing sits about 4% below pre-pandemic levels. Racine's manufacturing concentration means local conditions likely track this contraction more closely than the state average."}, {"headline": "Administrative and clerical pay is outrunning most other local roles.", "body": "Advertised pay for administrative/office roles rose significantly to $50,960 locally, outpacing the national median of $44,552. That divergence may reflect scarcer local supply for office-support functions even as manufacturing and retail show flatter wage signals."}], "local_conditions": "Racine County's unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in August, the 8th-highest among Wisconsin's 72 counties and up 0.4 points from a year earlier, even as county average weekly wages climbed 3.8% year-over-year in Q1 \u2014 among the strongest wage gains in the state. Manufacturing remains the metro's defining sector, but statewide forecasts point to manufacturing employment running roughly 1.3% below year-ago levels by October, consistent with Racine's own -1.5% employment decline recorded in December, the steepest among major Wisconsin counties.", "implications": "Rising local unemployment alongside above-average wage growth points to a metro economy where labor costs are climbing even as job counts soften \u2014 a combination that squeezes margins for employers while doing little to rebuild household purchasing power, since Wisconsin's real wage growth fell -5.1% year-over-year, the steepest decline of any state. Commerce leaders weighing expansion or investment timing should treat Racine's wage strength as a cost signal, since it is occurring alongside contraction. Current conditions suggest monitoring county-level employment releases alongside wage data before reading local wage gains as evidence of a tightening or expanding labor market.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected release", "body": "Wisconsin DWD's next county and MSA unemployment update will show whether Racine's August 4.1% reading holds or extends further above the statewide 3.2% rate. A continued widening would reinforce the case that local softening is metro-specific."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Statewide manufacturing employment is forecast to run 1.3% below year-ago levels by October, a trend that would weigh disproportionately on Racine given its manufacturing concentration. Watch county-level manufacturing payroll figures for confirmation or divergence from the state forecast."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Job ads for warehouse/fulfillment and delivery driver roles are both trending up moderately in Racine, a signal of hiring demand (one ad often covers several openings) in logistics-adjacent work even as broader manufacturing softens. Sustained growth there could offset some manufacturing drag in the metro's employment count."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Real wage erosion is running steeper in Wisconsin (-5.1% year-over-year) than almost any other state, a dynamic that could compress local consumer spending even where nominal wages rise. Watch whether Racine's above-average wage growth translates into stronger local retail and services activity or gets absorbed by inflation."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26000.0, "metro_p50": 33394.0, "metro_p75": 37746.0, "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": 23174.0, "metro_p50": 30125.6, "metro_p75": 32240.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 31268.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31246.0, "metro_p50": 36687.2, "metro_p75": 46800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 57211.0, "metro_p50": 76052.0, "metro_p75": 86580.0, "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": 31488.0, "metro_p50": 40580.0, "metro_p75": 43886.0, "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": 34369.5, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 43680.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72656.0, "metro_p50": 88806.0, "metro_p75": 100360.0, "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": 35674.5, "metro_p50": 39312.0, "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": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 36296.0, "metro_p50": 44431.0, "metro_p75": 47840.0, "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": 27768.75, "metro_p50": 29581.8, "metro_p75": 33548.0, "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": 36844.0, "metro_p50": 45760.0, "metro_p75": 53738.0, "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": 38146.5, "metro_p50": 50960.0, "metro_p75": 51747.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 63200.0, "metro_p50": 70261.6, "metro_p75": 79580.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 86480.0, "metro_p50": 98612.0, "metro_p75": 103072.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 50276.0, "metro_p50": 104646.0, "metro_p75": 125283.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 90729.25, "metro_p50": 131337.0, "metro_p75": 145389.5, "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": 58148.0, "metro_p50": 70280.8, "metro_p75": 73812.0, "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": 69395.0, "metro_p50": 86817.0, "metro_p75": 91429.5, "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": 65000.0, "metro_p50": 78736.0, "metro_p75": 91879.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 50000.0, "metro_p50": 50000.0, "metro_p75": 50000.0, "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": 70000.0, "metro_p50": 85176.0, "metro_p75": 88005.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 33668.0, "metro_p50": 50715.6, "metro_p75": 56904.25, "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": 54139.5, "metro_p50": 79810.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 94009.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 66387.0, "metro_p50": 80000.0, "metro_p75": 85223.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 81877.0, "metro_p50": 90552.6, "metro_p75": 119339.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98302.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 84675.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 60851.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 38189.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 57720.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 101650.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 46800.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 53040.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 67774.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 31823.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 66924.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "USAFacts/Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Racine County unemployment at 4.1% in August, 8th-highest in WI"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Racine County wages grew 3.8% YoY in Q1 2026"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Racine County employment fell 1.5% YoY in December 2025"}, {"source_name": "Wisconsin DWD/forecast research notes", "source_url": null, "statement": "Wisconsin manufacturing forecast 1.3% below year-ago levels by October"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Wisconsin real wage growth -5.1% YoY, steepest among states"}, {"source_name": "Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development", "source_url": null, "statement": "Wisconsin statewide unemployment at 3.2%, labor force participation 64.9%"}], "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": "racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:28:47.553455+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/racine-wi-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}