NEWS Release - COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES Third Quarter 2016
From September 2015 to September 2016, employment increased in 307 of the 344 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. York, S.C., had the largest percentage increase with a gain of 6.0 percent over the year, above the national job growth rate of 1.7 percent. Within York, the largest employment increase occurred in professional and business services, which gained 1,408 jobs over the year (15.0 percent).
Midland, Texas, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a loss of 5.8 percent. Within Midland, trade, transportation, and utilities had the largest decrease in employment, with a loss of 1,504 jobs (-8.2 percent). County employment and wage data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which provides the only detailed quarterly and annual universe count of establishments, employment, and wages at the county, metropolitan statistical area, state, and national levels by detailed industry. These data are published within 6 months following the end of each quarter.
The U.S. average weekly wage increased 5.4 percent over the year, growing to $1,027 in the third quarter of 2016. Clark, Nev., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages with a gain of 12.2 percent. Within Clark, an average weekly wage gain of $151 (24.0 percent) in leisure and hospitality made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages. Rockland, N.Y., experienced the largest percentage decrease in average weekly wages with a loss of 14.9 percent over the year. Within Rockland, manufacturing had the largest impact on the county’s average weekly wage decline with a decrease of $2,912 (-63.6 percent) over the year.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/
