{"schema_version": 1, "id": "warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 518, "label": "Warner Robins, GA MSA", "slug": "warner-robins-ga-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:44:51.368931+00:00", "headline": "Warner Robins wages climb as government payrolls contract.", "headline_summary": "Houston County unemployment held at 2.9% in July even as Warner Robins MSA employment fell 1.6% on a 7.3% government-sector pullback, while weekly wages rose 4.3% \u2014 outpacing the 3.0% national wage-growth rate.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Houston County unemployment", "value": "2.9%", "context": "vs 4.2% U.S., 3.2% Georgia (July/Aug 2026)"}, {"label": "MSA weekly wage growth", "value": "4.3%", "context": "vs 3.0% U.S., 3.3% Georgia statewide"}, {"label": "MSA government employment", "value": "-7.3% YoY", "context": "Q1 2026, steeper than GA federal loss of 9,400 jobs"}, {"label": "MSA total employment", "value": "-1.6% YoY", "context": "75,448 vs 76,652 jobs, Q1 2026"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Fewer jobs, higher pay \u2014 a reallocation story, not a downturn.", "body": "Warner Robins MSA employment fell 1.6% even as weekly wages jumped 4.3%, a pattern consistent with workers shifting out of contracting government roles into tighter, better-paying private-sector positions rather than broad job losses."}, {"headline": "Federal workforce adjustment is the metro's defining swing factor.", "body": "Government employment dropped 7.3% year-over-year locally, steeper than the 9,400 federal jobs Georgia lost statewide, underscoring how exposed Warner Robins remains to federal budget and staffing decisions given Robins AFB's regional weight."}, {"headline": "Financial services wage surge outpaces every other local sector.", "body": "Weekly wages in financial services rose 13.3% locally, far ahead of government's 9.6% and professional services' 4.8%, hinting at a small but fast-growing segment of higher-wage activity diversifying the metro's traditionally defense- and manufacturing-heavy base."}, {"headline": "Sub-3% unemployment leaves little slack for rapid local expansion.", "body": "Houston County's 2.9% jobless rate sits well below the 4.2% national figure, meaning new investment or facility announcements locally will draw from an already tight labor pool rather than idle capacity."}], "local_conditions": "Houston County's unemployment rate held at 2.9% in July, nearly a full point below the national 4.2% reading, even as Warner Robins MSA total employment slipped 1.6% year-over-year in the first quarter on a 7.3% contraction in government payrolls tied to federal workforce adjustments. Leisure/hospitality (+3.8%) and professional/business services (+2.2%) absorbed much of that shift, while metro weekly wages rose a robust 4.3% \u2014 outpacing both the 3.3% statewide gain and the 3.0% national wage-growth figure, suggesting a tightening labor pool despite the headline job count decline.", "implications": "Government payroll contraction alongside falling overall employment but rising wages points to a reshuffling labor market rather than a weakening one \u2014 fewer total positions chasing a labor force that remains scarce enough to keep pay climbing, a dynamic distinct from the national pattern where wage growth is cooling toward a five-year low. For commerce leaders evaluating local expansion, the combination of sub-3% unemployment and above-average wage growth signals a competitive labor pool but one still anchored by Robins AFB-linked stability rather than broad economic softening. Government economists and chamber leaders should consider tracking whether Houston County's wage-vs-employment divergence persists through Q3 data, as it may indicate the metro is absorbing federal-sector adjustment without the consumer-spending pullback seen nationally.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Expected", "body": "Q3 Warner Robins MSA employment and wage data should clarify whether the 1.6% job decline was a one-quarter federal-adjustment blip or the start of a longer government-sector contraction."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "National WARN filings naming Amazon, Meta, Oracle and other large employers have not yet surfaced locally; any Georgia manufacturing or logistics notices tied to the 1,077 historical manufacturing WARN filings statewide merit tracking for metro spillover."}, {"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "National wage growth has slowed to 3.0% against 3.4% inflation, eroding real purchasing power; if Warner Robins' 4.3% local wage gain converges toward the national trend, consumer spending momentum locally could soften."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "Continued federal government payroll adjustment nationally (financial activities down 129,000 since a 2025 peak, government down 216,000 over the year) raises the question of whether Robins AFB-linked civilian employment faces further near-term contraction."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 21812.5, "metro_p50": 27501.0, "metro_p75": 31259.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 21460.0, "metro_p50": 24705.0, "metro_p75": 26626.0, "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": 29116.5, "metro_p50": 34126.6, "metro_p75": 35077.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 61752.0, "metro_p50": 84500.0, "metro_p75": 92500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 26289.0, "metro_p50": 30423.0, "metro_p75": 32057.0, "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": 30160.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 35360.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 60718.0, "metro_p50": 67330.0, "metro_p75": 70614.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 34703.75, "metro_p50": 39062.0, "metro_p75": 63959.0, "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": 28577.0, "metro_p50": 33306.0, "metro_p75": 36892.0, "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": 28968.0, "metro_p50": 40654.0, "metro_p75": 41080.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29586.0, "metro_p50": 33280.0, "metro_p75": 34081.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30959.0, "metro_p50": 39339.8, "metro_p75": 42657.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 48801.75, "metro_p50": 61759.4, "metro_p75": 62434.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 85004.5, "metro_p50": 100174.0, "metro_p75": 108021.0, "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": 92613.0, "metro_p50": 125678.4, "metro_p75": 137371.75, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 91986.25, "metro_p50": 125276.0, "metro_p75": 157789.25, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 70057.75, "metro_p50": 70981.4, "metro_p75": 76500.0, "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": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 66944.0, "metro_p50": 90889.0, "metro_p75": 98907.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 54965.0, "metro_p50": 68969.2, "metro_p75": 80668.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 46361.0, "metro_p50": 59253.0, "metro_p75": 70614.0, "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": 65000.0, "metro_p50": 81400.0, "metro_p75": 91730.25, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "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": 25108.0, "metro_p50": 40035.0, "metro_p75": 44608.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 69499.0, "metro_p50": 87500.0, "metro_p75": 90000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 54937.0, "metro_p50": 80500.0, "metro_p75": 99000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 80206.0, "metro_p50": 96510.0, "metro_p75": 107200.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 45453.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 92350.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 33708.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 64938.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 108750.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 47840.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 81605.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 75970.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 27385.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 67687.0, "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": "warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T14:37:43.075575+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/warner-robins-ga-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}