{"schema_version": 1, "id": "shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 478, "label": "Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA", "slug": "shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:43:27.945696+00:00", "headline": "Shreveport wages climb as parish job counts quietly slip.", "headline_summary": "Caddo Parish employment fell 0.7% year-over-year even as average weekly wages grew 3.7%, while metro unemployment held at 4.3% against a 4.2% national rate.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "4.3%", "context": "Dec 2025, vs 4.2% national, 4.2% Louisiana (Aug 2026)"}, {"label": "Caddo Parish employment change", "value": "-0.7%", "context": "Year-over-year to March 2026, despite 3.7% wage growth"}, {"label": "Projected metro job growth", "value": "+2,700 jobs (+1.6%)", "context": "2026 forecast, 5th-largest gain among LA's 10 MSAs"}, {"label": "Cyber Research Park employment", "value": "2,102 jobs", "context": "Up from 1,854 in 2024; projected 2,885 by 2027"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Parish employment fell even as wages rose \u2014 a mismatch worth flagging.", "body": "Caddo Parish employment declined 0.7% year-over-year through March 2026 while average weekly wages grew 3.7%, a combination more consistent with labor supply tightness than with broad hiring expansion. Economic development messaging built around job counts alone may understate how constrained the available workforce has become."}, {"headline": "Schlumberger's footprint is the clearest tell on where local demand concentrates.", "body": "800 employees now occupy the former GM facility, with 2.5 million square feet of a 3.3 million square foot campus still available, positioning the site as a bellwether for data-center and LNG-adjacent investment. Growth looks concentrated and project-driven rather than distributed across the broader local economy."}, {"headline": "Advertised pay for technical and clerical roles is pulling in opposite directions.", "body": "Electrician pay rose significantly locally while administrative assistant and warehouse manager postings moved down moderately, echoing the national split between hands-on and white-collar demand. Local business investment decisions may need to account for this bifurcation rather than treat 'local labor costs' as a single number."}, {"headline": "Metro job growth outpaces the parish-level softness it sits inside.", "body": "Forecasts project 2,700 new jobs (+1.6%) metro-wide in 2026, yet core-parish employment is already contracting slightly, implying growth is skewing toward Bossier Parish and project-anchored sites like the Cyber Research Park. Commerce leaders tracking 'the metro economy' as one number risk missing this geographic divergence."}], "local_conditions": "Shreveport-Bossier labor market conditions remain tight by national standards, with the metro's 4.3% unemployment rate tracking below the national 4.2% peer comparison while Caddo Parish employment ticked down 0.7% year-over-year even as average weekly wages grew 3.7% \u2014 a sign local payroll growth has plateaued even as pay keeps climbing. Expansion at Schlumberger's reactivated GM facility and continued buildout at Bossier City's Cyber Research Park point to data-center and energy-services demand as the metro's clearest growth engine, offsetting softer momentum in retail and administrative roles where advertised pay fell this month.", "implications": "Flat-to-declining parish employment alongside positive wage growth suggests the metro's labor market is tightening on the supply side rather than expanding on demand \u2014 a dynamic that matters more for workforce development and site-selection planning than for day-to-day staffing. Commerce leaders evaluating expansion or relocation decisions should weigh the Schlumberger and Cyber Research Park buildouts as evidence of durable, project-anchored demand rather than broad-based business growth, since most non-technical, non-energy occupational categories in the local pay data are flat or declining. Current conditions suggest reviewing workforce pipeline investments \u2014 technical training, trades, and research-park-adjacent programs \u2014 ahead of anticipated 2026-2027 job growth projections, rather than waiting for broader metro employment numbers to confirm the trend.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected", "body": "BLS and Louisiana Workforce Commission September metro data releases in October will show whether the 4.3% unemployment rate held or drifted alongside the statewide dip to 4.2%. A continued gap between parish employment and wage growth would reinforce the tightening-supply read."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Cyber Research Park employment is projected to climb from 2,102 to 2,885 by 2027; near-term leasing or hiring announcements there would be an early signal the metro's technical-sector momentum is accelerating ahead of schedule."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Louisiana's statewide labor force participation rate sits at 58.4%, 43rd nationally; if Shreveport-Bossier tracks that trend, local employers and economic developers may face a structural labor-supply ceiling even as project pipelines expand."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Statewide mega-project spillover \u2014 LNG, data centers, advanced manufacturing \u2014 has driven record Louisiana employment; watch whether any of that capital investment pipeline extends northwest into the Shreveport-Bossier footprint beyond Schlumberger."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 20800.0, "metro_p50": 25625.0, "metro_p75": 29120.0, "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": 20800.0, "metro_p50": 22880.0, "metro_p75": 24960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28062.0, "metro_p50": 34320.0, "metro_p75": 36400.0, "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": 56166.0, "metro_p50": 78750.0, "metro_p75": 89201.0, "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": 24676.0, "metro_p50": 29607.0, "metro_p75": 35039.0, "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": 35514.2, "metro_p75": 37440.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 54080.0, "metro_p50": 70000.0, "metro_p75": 73859.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 35665.0, "metro_p75": 44720.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 29120.0, "metro_p50": 33799.0, "metro_p75": 35381.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 23920.0, "metro_p50": 28662.4, "metro_p75": 37523.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29085.0, "metro_p50": 32760.0, "metro_p75": 37115.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 30554.5, "metro_p50": 36788.4, "metro_p75": 39000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 45331.0, "metro_p50": 55936.0, "metro_p75": 61935.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 75389.0, "metro_p50": 93013.0, "metro_p75": 101143.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 93212.75, "metro_p50": 126844.0, "metro_p75": 143932.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 83042.25, "metro_p50": 89440.2, "metro_p75": 89455.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 58055.5, "metro_p50": 73952.0, "metro_p75": 73953.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 62957.5, "metro_p50": 75950.0, "metro_p75": 83524.5, "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": "metro", "metro_p25": 47102.0, "metro_p50": 62447.0, "metro_p75": 96148.0, "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": 43369.0, "metro_p50": 58052.0, "metro_p75": 70334.0, "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": 57519.0, "metro_p50": 88000.0, "metro_p75": 90963.5, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 43361.0, "metro_p50": 47527.0, "metro_p75": 50077.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60937.0, "metro_p50": 79922.4, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 45000.0, "metro_p50": 51506.0, "metro_p75": 59133.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 68745.5, "metro_p50": 91070.0, "metro_p75": 91070.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 59196.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "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": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 34320.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 58800.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 53662.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 54892.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 51501.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 62522.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 28087.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 64177.0, "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": "shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T14:36:25.187387+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/shreveport-bossier-city-la-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}