{"schema_version": 1, "id": "st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 487, "label": "St. Joseph, MO-KS MSA", "slug": "st-joseph-mo-ks-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T08:05:56.679355+00:00", "headline": "St. Joseph holds 3.7% jobless rate as state cools around it.", "headline_summary": "Metro unemployment at 3.7% continues to outperform the national 4.1% rate even as Missouri shed 10,600 jobs statewide in September, with local healthcare wages (Registered Nurse pay up significantly) and transportation wages (CDL Truck Driver pay down moderately) moving in opposite directions.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "3.7%", "context": "vs 4.1% national, 3.6% Missouri statewide"}, {"label": "Missouri September payrolls", "value": "-10,600", "context": "Statewide loss; KC -4,200, St. Louis +3,400"}, {"label": "Buchanan County avg weekly wage", "value": "$1,182", "context": "Highest among Missouri's smaller counties"}, {"label": "Missouri 2026 WARN notices", "value": "31 notices / 3,029 workers", "context": "Down 41% from 2025 totals"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Metro unemployment beats the nation in a pattern now eleven years running.", "body": "3.7% local versus 4.1% national continues an 11-year pattern of Missouri running below the US rate, so this month's reading signals continuity in local economic momentum."}, {"headline": "Healthcare wage gains outpace the broader metro basket.", "body": "Registered Nurse pay rose significantly and CNA/Home Health Aide pay rose moderately, consistent with national healthcare hiring strength and aging-population demand that shows no sign of easing locally."}, {"headline": "Software Engineer pay fell sharply while Data Engineer pay climbed.", "body": "Metro Software Engineer advertised pay dropped significantly even as Data Engineer pay rose moderately, a divergence that may reflect how thin and volatile the local tech-adjacent labor pool is relative to coastal or Kansas City markets."}, {"headline": "Transportation pay softness tracks a state-level freight slowdown.", "body": "CDL Truck Driver and Delivery Driver advertised pay both declined moderately in the metro, consistent with Missouri's 20 WARN notices in transportation and logistics \u2014 the state's most-cited layoff category this year."}], "local_conditions": "St. Joseph metro unemployment held at 3.7% in the most recent reading, a tighter reading than both the national 4.1% rate and a level consistent with more than a decade of Missouri outperforming the US jobline. Buchanan County's average weekly wage of $1,182 \u2014 the strongest among Missouri's smaller counties \u2014 alongside active local demand in manufacturing, healthcare and logistics suggests the metro's labor market is absorbing statewide softness (Missouri shed 10,600 jobs in September) without a comparable local pullback.", "implications": "Metro wage strength in healthcare (Registered Nurse up significantly, CNA/Home Health Aide up moderately) and skilled trades (HVAC Technician up moderately) points to where local economic activity is concentrated, while flat-to-declining advertised pay in trucking, delivery and software signals uneven momentum across the basket of occupations that make up the metro economy. Commerce leaders weighing expansion or investment timing should read the healthcare and trades strength as the more durable local signal, since it tracks demographic and infrastructure demand on a longer cycle than any single employer follows; consider evaluating local business investment decisions against sector-specific momentum alongside the metro's aggregate unemployment rate.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected release", "body": "September 2026 metro-level unemployment data from BLS was due October 23 and will be the first hard read on whether Missouri's statewide September job losses (-10,600) touched St. Joseph specifically."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Kansas City lost 4,200 jobs in September while St. Louis gained 3,400, underscoring metro-level divergence within Missouri; St. Joseph's next jobs report will show which direction it tracks closer to."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Manufacturing and transportation account for 35 of Missouri's 2026 WARN notices combined \u2014 the two categories most visible in St. Joseph's local job postings (National Beef, logistics staffing), where job ads signal hiring demand and one ad often covers several openings. Local establishment concentration (2,713 total in Buchanan County) means a single large filing would register more visibly here than in a larger metro."}, {"category": "Policy to track", "body": "Missouri's minimum wage reached $15/hour in January 2026 with the CPI-adjustment provision repealed legislatively; the full-year wage data from this change will begin showing in year-over-year comparisons for the metro's lower-wage roles (retail, food service) over the coming months."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 24424.0, "metro_p50": 28864.0, "metro_p75": 31611.25, "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": 25869.0, "metro_p50": 29766.0, "metro_p75": 31720.0, "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": 31492.75, "metro_p50": 35320.0, "metro_p75": 37087.0, "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": 60385.0, "metro_p50": 75920.0, "metro_p75": 86092.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78872.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27252.0, "metro_p50": 30788.0, "metro_p75": 37440.0, "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": 29398.0, "metro_p50": 35444.0, "metro_p75": 37440.0, "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": 57950.5, "metro_p50": 68214.0, "metro_p75": 75702.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 71835.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 33553.75, "metro_p50": 37764.6, "metro_p75": 43447.75, "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": 27324.0, "metro_p50": 32886.0, "metro_p75": 35876.0, "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": 27422.0, "metro_p50": 31200.0, "metro_p75": 31557.0, "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": 33800.0, "metro_p50": 40601.8, "metro_p75": 44200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 41600.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31591.0, "metro_p50": 36831.0, "metro_p75": 39520.0, "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": 65494.0, "metro_p50": 71308.0, "metro_p75": 73636.5, "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": 80906.0, "metro_p50": 97369.8, "metro_p75": 104360.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102252.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 91571.0, "metro_p50": 121408.0, "metro_p75": 134049.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 154403.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 94656.5, "metro_p50": 133134.0, "metro_p75": 135761.0, "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": 54652.0, "metro_p50": 61801.8, "metro_p75": 72554.0, "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": 66206.75, "metro_p50": 84119.0, "metro_p75": 88901.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 94646.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 51299.75, "metro_p50": 61200.8, "metro_p75": 70552.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 61346.75, "metro_p50": 77145.0, "metro_p75": 100231.5, "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": 66901.25, "metro_p50": 80684.0, "metro_p75": 87685.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 86294.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 28600.0, "metro_p50": 48805.0, "metro_p75": 54186.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60000.0, "metro_p50": 92639.0, "metro_p75": 114091.75, "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": 70000.0, "metro_p50": 81594.0, "metro_p75": 103119.0, "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": 70794.0, "metro_p50": 86499.2, "metro_p75": 90089.0, "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": 85000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 77854.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 44450.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 58000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 74463.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 66748.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 88557.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 80831.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 30320.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 56653.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)", "source_url": null, "statement": "St. Joseph MSA unemployment rate at 3.7%"}, {"source_name": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Buchanan County average weekly wage of $1,182"}, {"source_name": "Missouri Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Missouri lost 10,600 jobs in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "Missouri Department of Labor", "source_url": null, "statement": "Kansas City lost 4,200 jobs, St. Louis gained 3,400 in September"}, {"source_name": "Missouri WARN Act filings", "source_url": null, "statement": "Missouri 2026 WARN notices concentrated in transportation, manufacturing"}, {"source_name": "Missouri HB 567", "source_url": null, "statement": "Missouri minimum wage set at $15/hour effective January 2026"}], "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": "st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:31:01.047859+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/st-joseph-mo-ks-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}