Metro Job Market Pulse · General Market Conditions · October 2026
General Market Conditions Labor Market Report: Wichita Falls, TX MSA — October 2026
Wichita Falls unemployment climbs as Skybox project stalls.
Metro unemployment rose to 4.5% in August from 4.2% a year earlier even as the labor force held near 66.0 thousand, while delay of the Skybox data center project clouds the region's near-term investment outlook.
Free archive edition. Published by WageScape as sent to subscribers; data as of October 2026.
Key indicators
- Metro unemployment rate: 4.5% — Up from 4.2% in August 2025 (TWC, preliminary)
- Metro civilian labor force: 66.0 thousand — Held steady despite rising unemployment
- Texas statewide unemployment: 4.4% — vs 4.2% nationally (TWC, Sept. 2026)
- Texas labor force growth: +3,600 net over 12 months — Near-stall per Dallas Fed (Oct. 2026 forecast)
Key takeaways
Unemployment ticked up without a labor force exodus.
Civilian labor force stayed near 66.0 thousand even as unemployment climbed from 4.2% to 4.5% year-over-year, suggesting the metro has workers available but employers advertising fewer positions. That combination points to softening local demand, with the labor force itself remaining stable.
Skybox delay tests the metro's project pipeline narrative.
Postponement of groundbreaking on the data center project removes a visible anchor for future hiring demand and construction activity. Commerce leaders tracking the region's investment story should watch whether the delay proves temporary or signals broader hesitation among capital-intensive projects locally.
Building trades pay keeps climbing despite project uncertainty.
Construction Laborer pay rose significantly and Electrician pay rose moderately in the metro, both outpacing their national medians. That divergence from the Skybox news suggests existing construction demand remains firm even as one marquee project stalls.
Public-sector hiring activity offers a stabilizing counterweight.
City of Wichita Falls hiring events across water, streets, sanitation, parks, transit and dispatch in September point to continued public-sector employment activity even as broader metro unemployment edges higher. That stability is a relevant data point for economic development messaging focused on the metro's resilience.
Median advertised pay by role — Wichita Falls, TX MSA
| Role | 25th percentile | Median advertised pay | 75th percentile | Metro trend | National median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales Associate | $24,206 | $27,040 | $32,240 | Stable | $33,340 |
| Retail Cashier | $22,919 | $25,222 | $28,271 | Moderate increase | $31,268 |
| Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate | $31,200 | $39,520 | $41,600 | Stable | $38,480 |
| CDL Truck Driver | $62,625 | $85,726 | $93,600 | Stable | $78,872 |
| Delivery Driver | $26,847 | $31,437 | $33,800 | Stable | $34,826 |
| Construction Laborer | $33,800 | $48,880 | $48,880 | Significant increase | $40,727 |
| Electrician | $55,733 | $72,825 | $79,552 | Moderate increase | $71,835 |
| Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler | $32,240 | $32,240 | $34,320 | Stable | $39,520 |
| Customer Service Representative | $30,688 | $36,178 | $37,440 | Moderate decline | $39,520 |
| Food Service Worker | $25,577 | $29,151 | $33,280 | Moderate increase | $33,764 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide | $30,345 | $33,280 | $37,440 | Stable | $41,600 |
| Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk | $28,772 | $36,103 | $39,687 | Stable | $44,552 |
| HVAC Technician * | $57,200 | $69,406 | $76,000 | Moderate increase | $71,406 |
| Registered Nurse | $84,003 | $103,484 | $114,298 | Stable | $102,252 |
| Software Engineer * | $113,625 | $152,500 | $167,458 | Stable | $154,403 |
| Data Engineer * | $100,219 | $135,000 | $153,586 | Stable | $138,000 |
| Accountant | $52,034 | $61,285 | $69,014 | Moderate decline | $72,000 |
| Financial Analyst * | $73,013 | $93,875 | $101,920 | Moderate increase | $94,646 |
| HR Generalist/Manager | $62,500 | $62,500 | $71,151 | Significant decline | $74,477 |
| Marketing Specialist * | $46,800 | $61,150 | $72,500 | Stable | $62,916 |
| Operations Manager * | $70,000 | $82,583 | $98,295 | Moderate decline | $86,294 |
| Elementary/Secondary School Teacher | $27,560 | $49,791 | $55,542 | Moderate decline | $55,908 |
| Account Manager | $31,075 | $62,500 | $78,961 | Significant decline | $94,009 |
| Warehouse Manager * | $48,368 | $70,873 | $85,260 | Significant decline | $75,000 |
| Business Analyst * | $79,461 | $96,918 | $109,288 | Stable | $98,302 |
* State-level figure shown where metro postings were too few.
WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings (reported as the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay). Download: CSV · JSON
Industry snapshot
| Sector | Median advertised pay | Pay trend | Postings trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $51,775 | Significant decline | Significant increase |
| Manufacturing | $68,000 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Retail Trade | $33,592 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities | $62,851 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Information | $50,921 | Moderate decline | Moderate increase |
| Financial Activities | $63,333 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Professional & Business Services | $61,632 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Education & Health Services | $72,500 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Leisure & Hospitality | $30,321 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Government | $65,970 | Stable | Significant increase |
Local market conditions
Wichita Falls MSA unemployment rose to 4.5% in August 2026 (preliminary), up from 4.2% a year earlier, even as the civilian labor force held near 66.0 thousand -- a pattern consistent with softening local demand, with workers staying in the labor pool. Delay of the Skybox data center project, announced in early October, removes near-term momentum from what had been one of the region's most visible planned capital investments, while municipal hiring activity for water, streets, sanitation and transit signals continued public-sector stability as a counterweight to private-sector softening.
What it means
Rising local unemployment alongside a stable labor force suggests capacity is loosening while the workforce itself stays in place -- a different signal than the statewide labor-force stall described in Dallas Fed data, and one that matters for how commerce leaders read the region's readiness to absorb new investment. Construction Laborer pay (up significantly, metro median $48,880) and Electrician pay (up moderately, $72,825) point to continued momentum in building trades even as the Skybox delay raises questions about project-driven demand; Operations Manager and Warehouse Manager pay both moved down moderately-to-significantly locally, a divergence worth tracking against statewide manufacturing strength. Economic development leaders may want to evaluate how the Skybox delay affects broader employer confidence in the metro's project pipeline, separate from the underlying labor supply question.
Looking ahead
Potential inflection point: Whether the Skybox data center project announces a revised timeline in the next 30-60 days will shape confidence in the metro's larger capital-project pipeline. A prolonged delay or cancellation would be a more material signal than the postponement itself.
Expected: BLS metro-level data for September and October won't post until late November, meaning the 4.5% August unemployment reading remains the most current official figure. Commerce leaders should treat any intervening month-to-month narrative with appropriate caution until confirmed.
Worth watching: Texas's statewide labor force growth has nearly stalled, adding only 3,600 net participants over a full year per Dallas Fed data. Whether Wichita Falls tracks that statewide pattern or continues to hold a stable labor force independent of it will matter for how the metro positions itself for future investment.
Emerging pressure point: Construction and skilled trades pay gains locally (Construction Laborer, Electrician, HVAC Technician all up) contrast with softer office and management-role pay (Operations Manager, Warehouse Manager both down). Watch whether this divergence widens, which would reinforce a bifurcated local economy -- trades-driven strength against white-collar softening.
Sources
- Texas Workforce Commission — Wichita Falls MSA unemployment at 4.5% August 2026, up from 4.2% year-ago
- NewsChannel 6 Now — Skybox data center project groundbreaking delayed, announced October 2026
- KFDX/KJTL - TexomaHomepage — City of Wichita Falls hiring events for municipal positions, September 2026
- Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas — Texas labor force added only 3,600 net participants over 12 months
- Texas Workforce Commission — Texas statewide unemployment rate 4.4% vs national 4.2%
- Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas — Texas labor force growth has stalled amid immigration-related labor supply curbs
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. WageScape observes 98% of U.S. job openings daily.
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