In June 2004, Rutherford County, Tenn., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Rutherford County experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 8.5 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.2 percent. Suffolk County, Mass., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the second quarter of 2004, with an increase of 11.8 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 3.1 percent over the same time span.
Of the 317 largest counties in the United States, 155 had over-the-year percentage growth in employment above the national average in June 2004, and 146 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 139 of the largest U.S. counties, while the percent change in average weekly wages was below the national average in 163 counties.
Large County Employment
In June 2004, national employment, as measured by the QCEW program, was 130.6 million, up 1.2 percent from June 2003. The 317 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 70.3 percent of total U.S. covered employment and 76.2 percent of total covered wages. These 317 counties had a net job gain of 986,400 over the year, accounting for 63.5 percent of the U.S. employment increase. Employment increased in 237 of the large counties from June 2003 to June 2004. Rutherford County, Tenn., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (8.5 percent). Elkhart County, Ind., had the next largest increase, 7.6 percent, followed by the counties of Clark, Nev. (7.3 percent), Prince William, Va. (6.9 percent), and Collin, Texas (6.8 percent).Employment declined in 65 counties from June 2003 to June 2004. The largest percentage decline in employment was in Trumbull County, Ohio (-3.4 percent), followed by the counties of St. Louis City, Mo. (-2.6 percent), Anchorage Borough, Alaska, and Santa Cruz, Calif. (-2.2 percent each), and Baltimore City, Md., and Wayne, Mich. (-2.1 percent each).
The largest gains in employment from June 2003 to June 2004 were recorded in the counties of Orange, Calif. (55,500), Clark, Nev. (55,000), Maricopa, Ariz. (47,000), Los Angeles, Calif. (32,500), and Riverside, Calif. (29,400).
The largest absolute declines in employment occurred in Wayne County, Mich. (-17,200), followed by the counties of Philadelphia, Pa. (-10,600), Oakland, Mich. (-10,200), Alameda, Calif., and Middlesex, Mass. (-8,600 each).
Large County Average Weekly Wages
The national average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2004 was $724. Average weekly wages were higher than the national average in 113 of the largest 317 U.S. counties. New York County, N.Y., held the top position among the highest-paid large counties with an average weekly wage of $1,300. Santa Clara County, Calif., was second with an average weekly wage of $1,288, followed by Washington, D.C. ($1,189), Arlington, Va. ($1,170), and Suffolk, Mass. ($1,163).There were 200 counties with an average weekly wage below the national average in the second quarter of 2004. The lowest average weekly wages were reported in Cameron County, Texas ($452), followed by the counties of Hidalgo, Texas ($457), Horry, S.C. ($476), Webb, Texas ($486), and Yakima, Wash. ($491).
Over the year, national average weekly wages rose by 3.1 percent. Among the largest counties, Suffolk County, Mass., led the nation in growth in average weekly wages, with an increase of 11.8 percent from the second quarter of 2003. Pierce County, Wash., was second with 9.8 percent growth, followed by the counties of Lee, Fla. (9.6 percent), Spartanburg, S.C. (8.7 percent), and Rock Island, Ill. (8.5 percent).
Twelve counties experienced over-the-year declines in average weekly wages. Somerset County, N.J., had the largest decrease, -5.2 percent, followed by the counties of Olmsted, Minn. (-3.3 percent), Williamson, Texas (-2.7 percent), King, Wash. (-2.0 percent), and Lake, Ohio (-1.6 percent).
