The index is a weighted composite of three components, each computed as a percentile across the 24 covered metros. The weights are the methodology, so they are public:
Pool depth · 50%
Division-relevant occupation employment (BLS OES), inverted: smaller pools score tighter.
Labor slack · 30%
Metro unemployment rate (BLS LAUS), inverted: lower unemployment means fewer available workers.
Wage competition · 20%
Division mean wage percentile: higher local pay signals employers already bidding for scarce talent.
What it is: a relative index across TWF's covered Southeast metros, refreshed with each federal data release, published openly so anyone can check the math.
What it is not: a national measure, a forecast, or a substitute for market judgment. Durham-Chapel Hill at 86 does not mean hiring is impossible; it means your offer, your speed, and your employer brand have to work harder there, and we price that reality into every engagement.