{"schema_version": 1, "id": "vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 356, "label": "Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ MSA", "slug": "vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-10", "public_after": "2026-10-01", "frozen_at": "2026-11-03T08:08:01.032526+00:00", "headline": "Vineland unemployment improves but still trails the state by wide margin.", "headline_summary": "Cumberland County's jobless rate fell to 6.1% in September from 7.4% in August, yet remains well above New Jersey's 4.2% statewide rate, even as local wages in manufacturing, healthcare, and construction trades moved higher.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Cumberland County unemployment", "value": "6.1%", "context": "Down from 7.4% in August 2026"}, {"label": "NJ statewide unemployment", "value": "4.2%", "context": "Lowest since May 2023; gap vs. metro persists"}, {"label": "Vineland MSA unemployment (seasonally adj.)", "value": "6.8%", "context": "August 2026; down from 8.6% a year earlier"}, {"label": "NJ nonfarm job growth", "value": "+14,900", "context": "September 2026, statewide month-over-month"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Metro unemployment gap with the state is narrowing.", "body": "Cumberland County's drop to 6.1% in September from 7.4% in August is a meaningful one-month move, but the metro still trails New Jersey's 4.2% rate by roughly 1.9 points on a comparable basis and far more on the MSA's seasonally adjusted 6.8% August reading. Local economic development messaging should distinguish directional improvement from parity with state conditions."}, {"headline": "Health care and manufacturing remain the metro's two load-bearing sectors.", "body": "Advertised pay for Certified Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides rose moderately to $45,240 and Manufacturing Production Worker pay rose moderately to $37,016, both outperforming their national medians in direction. That consistency across two sectors reduces single-industry concentration risk relative to the state's reliance on education and health services alone for recent job gains."}, {"headline": "Construction and skilled trades show the sharpest local wage movement.", "body": "Construction Laborer pay rose significantly to $41,975 locally, outpacing the national moderate increase, while HVAC Technician pay rose significantly to $74,540 against a national moderate gain. Either signal is consistent with active building or infrastructure activity in the metro worth confirming against permit and project data."}, {"headline": "Office and professional pay gains diverge from the metro's blue-collar identity.", "body": "Operations Manager pay rose significantly to $102,500 (versus a stable national figure) and Accountant pay rose moderately to $83,644, both outpacing national trends despite the metro's traditional manufacturing and agriculture base. That pattern may suggest administrative and management functions tied to local food production and logistics operations are commanding a local premium."}], "local_conditions": "Cumberland County's unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in September from 7.4% in August, continuing a multi-month improvement, though the Vineland-Bridgeton MSA remains the highest-unemployment metro in New Jersey by a wide margin against the state's 4.2% rate. Local economic momentum appears concentrated in healthcare and food manufacturing, consistent with Cumberland County's establishment mix (31% of businesses in health care and social assistance), while advertised pay for manufacturing production workers and nursing/home health roles both moved up this month, pointing to sustained demand in the metro's traditional economic base.", "implications": "Metro unemployment nearly 2.7 points above the state rate signals a local economy still working through labor-force slack even as statewide and national conditions tighten, which matters for how commerce leaders read local consumer spending capacity and site-selection conversations with prospective employers. Public-sector stability appears intact locally even as New Jersey's state government payrolls shed 1,100 jobs in September, and the October 7 Legislative District 1 Job Fair Expo drawing healthcare, manufacturing, law enforcement, and casino employers suggests cross-sector demand spans multiple industries. Commerce leaders and economic development officials should consider evaluating whether the county's improving unemployment trend and healthcare/manufacturing wage gains represent a durable base for business investment pitches, or a lagging recovery still catching up to statewide conditions.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected data release", "body": "Full October BLS employment data for the Vineland MSA is expected late October or early November; confirming whether the county's unemployment improvement continued into October will clarify whether September's drop was a trend or a single-month swing."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "New Jersey's statewide WARN activity is on pace for its heaviest year since 2020, concentrated in manufacturing and financial services elsewhere in the state; no major Cumberland-area filings have surfaced yet, but commerce leaders should watch whether that activity reaches South Jersey food and manufacturing employers."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Trade, transportation, and utilities lost 5,100 jobs statewide in September, a sector relevant to Vineland's food distribution and logistics base; a local pullback here would test whether the metro's manufacturing wage gains can hold."}, {"category": "Policy to monitor", "body": "New Jersey's minimum wage rises to $16.48 on January 1, 2027, adding a defined, scheduled cost input for retail, food service, and hospitality employers across the metro; commerce leaders can plan around this known date."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26124.0, "metro_p50": 33550.4, "metro_p75": 35194.0, "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": 26980.75, "metro_p50": 32756.0, "metro_p75": 33602.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 35273.75, "metro_p50": 38324.0, "metro_p75": 40261.0, "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": 61773.0, "metro_p50": 80599.6, "metro_p75": 92659.25, "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": 32939.0, "metro_p50": 33837.0, "metro_p75": 37357.0, "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": 40560.0, "metro_p50": 41975.0, "metro_p75": 47060.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 40726.6, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 62400.0, "metro_p50": 67600.0, "metro_p75": 72800.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 34320.0, "metro_p50": 37016.0, "metro_p75": 39101.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 37357.0, "metro_p50": 44868.0, "metro_p75": 45760.0, "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": 30616.0, "metro_p50": 33259.0, "metro_p75": 33280.0, "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": 37157.0, "metro_p50": 45240.0, "metro_p75": 47840.0, "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": 38480.0, "metro_p50": 44720.0, "metro_p75": 50960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 44552.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 69680.0, "metro_p50": 74540.0, "metro_p75": 81500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 71406.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 84830.75, "metro_p50": 104188.0, "metro_p75": 120640.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 129381.75, "metro_p50": 170000.0, "metro_p75": 185761.75, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 102461.0, "metro_p50": 135979.4, "metro_p75": 157590.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 138000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 67435.0, "metro_p50": 83643.6, "metro_p75": 87500.0, "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": 67474.0, "metro_p50": 73339.0, "metro_p75": 82893.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "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": 49993.0, "metro_p50": 64980.8, "metro_p75": 70000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 74477.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 50452.0, "metro_p50": 70000.0, "metro_p75": 80000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "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": 102500.0, "metro_p75": 121957.0, "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": 39000.0, "metro_p50": 57297.0, "metro_p75": 64000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 55908.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 38491.5, "metro_p50": 62400.0, "metro_p75": 93213.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 69041.25, "metro_p50": 90000.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 84687.0, "metro_p50": 103732.4, "metro_p75": 116352.25, "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": 58240.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 85025.5, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 38272.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 47320.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 46155.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 51740.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 57200.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 59083.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 32070.5, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 71392.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [{"source_name": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "Cumberland County unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "FRED / Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis", "source_url": null, "statement": "Vineland-Bridgeton MSA unemployment rate 6.8% seasonally adjusted, August 2026"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "New Jersey statewide unemployment fell to 4.2% in September, lowest since May 2023"}, {"source_name": "Bureau of Labor Statistics", "source_url": null, "statement": "New Jersey public sector lost 1,100 jobs in September 2026"}, {"source_name": "New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development", "source_url": null, "statement": "New Jersey minimum wage rises to $16.48 effective January 1, 2027"}, {"source_name": "Layoff Atlas / NJ WARN registry", "source_url": null, "statement": "2026 on pace to be heaviest WARN notice year in New Jersey since 2020"}], "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": "vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "pdf": "vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf", "sources_html": "vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-11-03T08:31:53.757046+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/vineland-millville-bridgeton-nj-msa/metro-job-market/2026-10.pdf"}