{"schema_version": 1, "id": "sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 313, "label": "Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, CA MSA", "slug": "sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T08:04:54.560881+00:00", "headline": "Sacramento unemployment falls as California's stays flat.", "headline_summary": "Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom unemployment dropped to 5.0% in September while California held at 5.1%, even as skilled-trades pay \u2014 Electrician up to $84,744 \u2014 outpaces national wage growth.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "5.0%", "context": "Down from 5.2% in August; vs. 5.1% statewide"}, {"label": "Metro job change, Sep (m/m)", "value": "-2,400", "context": "Total MSA employment: 1,116,100 jobs"}, {"label": "Metro job change, y/y", "value": "+9,100", "context": "Total wage and salary jobs vs. year-ago"}, {"label": "California unemployment rate", "value": "5.1%", "context": "Flat 3rd straight month; vs. 4.1% national"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Sacramento unemployment is improving faster than the state's.", "body": "The metro's 5.0% September rate, down from 5.2% in August, moved in the opposite direction of California's flat 5.1% \u2014 a divergence worth flagging to anyone benchmarking Sacramento against Fresno, Bakersfield, or the Bay Area for investment or relocation decisions."}, {"headline": "Institutional layoffs concentrate in public-adjacent anchors.", "body": "Foundation for California Community Colleges, Kaiser Permanente, and Intel Folsom account for the month's most visible WARN filings, but the metro still posted net year-over-year job growth of 9,100 \u2014 evidence of isolated institutional adjustment within an otherwise expanding region."}, {"headline": "Skilled trades pay is pulling ahead of national rates by a wide margin.", "body": "Electrician advertised pay rose significantly to $84,744 locally versus a moderate national gain to $71,835, and Warehouse Manager pay jumped significantly to $94,853 against a stable national figure \u2014 both consistent with construction and logistics demand outpacing available local labor supply."}, {"headline": "Hospitality and food-service softness is the clearest drag on momentum.", "body": "Accommodation/food services led September's job losses (down 1,600) and Food Service Worker advertised pay fell moderately to $43,576, a pattern consistent with softening discretionary consumer spending that commerce leaders should weigh against any assumption of uniform local strength."}], "local_conditions": "Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom MSA unemployment eased to 5.0% in September from 5.2% in August, outperforming the state's flat 5.1% even as the four-county region shed 2,400 jobs month over month, concentrated in accommodation/food services, arts and entertainment, and construction. Public colleges, healthcare systems, and semiconductor operations drove the month's layoff notices \u2014 Foundation for California Community Colleges (178 workers), Intel Folsom (67), and Kaiser Permanente cuts effective November 20 \u2014 even as construction, healthcare, and government postings signal continued hiring demand (job ads, a signal of hiring demand, often covering several openings each).", "implications": "Local unemployment improving against a static state rate suggests the Sacramento metro economy is absorbing labor-market churn better than California overall, a signal commerce leaders can use when positioning the region to site selectors or investors weighing inland California against coastal metros. Layoffs clustering in public-adjacent institutions (community colleges, Kaiser) alongside continued construction and healthcare advertised pay strength (Electrician up significantly to $84,744, Registered Nurse up moderately to $132,366) point to a metro where public-sector-linked employment is adjusting while skilled trades and healthcare remain tight. Current conditions suggest government economists and chamber leaders track whether community college and healthcare system adjustments are one-time versus a trend before drawing conclusions about regional institutional stability.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Watch whether Sacramento's unemployment improvement (5.2% to 5.0%) continues into October data or reverses, which would clarify whether the metro is decoupling from the state's stalled 5.1% rate or simply experiencing monthly noise."}, {"category": "Institutional stability watch", "body": "Kaiser Permanente's Sacramento/Folsom layoffs take effect November 20 and the Foundation for California Community Colleges filing closes October 30 \u2014 track whether these remain isolated or are followed by additional notices from public-adjacent institutions."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Accommodation, food services, arts/entertainment, and construction drove September's net job losses; a second consecutive month of declines in these sectors would signal consumer-facing demand cooling beyond a seasonal dip."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Construction and trades job fairs (SacJobs, October 21) alongside sharply rising Electrician and Warehouse Manager pay suggest a tightening skilled-labor segment; commerce leaders evaluating expansion should monitor whether local training pipelines (SB 845 apprenticeships, Employment Training Panel grants) begin closing that gap."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 35152.0, "metro_p50": 38480.0, "metro_p75": 40560.0, "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": 32240.0, "metro_p50": 37346.2, "metro_p75": 39832.0, "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": 37440.0, "metro_p50": 42120.0, "metro_p75": 45016.5, "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": 58240.0, "metro_p50": 77142.0, "metro_p75": 87750.0, "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": 35470.0, "metro_p50": 41600.0, "metro_p75": 47614.0, "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": 39111.0, "metro_p50": 44990.0, "metro_p75": 52000.0, "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": 68640.0, "metro_p50": 84744.4, "metro_p75": 95312.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 37968.0, "metro_p50": 43680.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 37762.5, "metro_p50": 43485.0, "metro_p75": 45760.0, "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": 35152.0, "metro_p50": 43576.0, "metro_p75": 48027.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 41600.0, "metro_p50": 48880.0, "metro_p75": 52000.0, "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": 40556.0, "metro_p50": 49227.6, "metro_p75": 54080.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 67600.0, "metro_p50": 81120.0, "metro_p75": 88400.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 104000.0, "metro_p50": 132366.2, "metro_p75": 147825.0, "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": 127792.0, "metro_p50": 166615.0, "metro_p75": 180328.0, "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": 100020.0, "metro_p50": 130450.8, "metro_p75": 149977.25, "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": 62356.0, "metro_p50": 75000.0, "metro_p75": 81177.0, "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": 88724.25, "metro_p50": 108500.0, "metro_p75": 118581.75, "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": 69256.5, "metro_p50": 82500.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "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": 54033.75, "metro_p50": 80014.6, "metro_p75": 91695.0, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 72095.0, "metro_p50": 90559.0, "metro_p75": 93639.5, "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": 43156.75, "metro_p50": 68458.0, "metro_p75": 81701.5, "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": 68750.0, "metro_p50": 100079.0, "metro_p75": 124700.0, "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": 74500.0, "metro_p50": 94853.0, "metro_p75": 102750.0, "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": 86930.0, "metro_p50": 104000.0, "metro_p75": 114754.0, "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": 72800.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 117800.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 45104.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 58240.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 150958.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 70720.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 95732.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 75390.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 41600.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 71764.0, "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": "sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:29:20.074507+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/sacramento-arden-arcade-roseville-ca-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}