Economic News Release USDL-20-0300
County Employment and Wages Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST), Thursday, February 20, 2020

Technical Information: (202) 691-6567 * QCEWInfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cew
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES – THIRD QUARTER 2019

From September 2018 to September 2019, employment increased in 283 of the 355 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In September 2019, national employment (as measured by the QCEW program) increased to 148.6 million, a 1.1 percent increase over the year. New Hanover, NC, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 5.8 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for September 2019, and average weekly wage data are presented for third quarter 2019.

Among the 355 largest counties, 350 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the third quarter of 2019, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,093, a 3.6 percent increase over the year. Boulder, CO, had the largest third quarter over-the-year wage gain at 18.4 percent. (See table 1.)

Large County Employment in September 2019

New Hanover, NC, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (5.8 percent). Within New Hanover, the largest employment increase occurred in leisure and hospitality, which gained 1,725 jobs over the year (10.2 percent).

Bay, FL, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment, with a loss of 5.9 percent. Within Bay, education and health services had the largest employment decrease with a loss of 2,347 jobs (-21.1 percent).

Large County Average Weekly Wage in Third Quarter 2019

Boulder, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages (18.4 percent). Within Boulder, an average weekly wage gain of $1,016 (51.8 percent) in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages.

Linn, IA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages with a loss of 2.6 percent. Within Linn, manufacturing had the largest impact, with an average weekly wage decrease of $285 (-14.7 percent) over the year.

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The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2019 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).

The County Employment and Wages news release for fourth quarter 2019 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).