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Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
QCEW QCEW Program Links

County Employment and Wages News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT), Thursday, April 1, 2010 USDL-10-0393 
 
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 2009 
 
 
From September 2008 to September 2009, employment declined in 329 of 
the 334 largest U.S. counties according to preliminary data, the U.S. 
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Elkhart County, Ind., 
located about 100 miles east of Chicago, posted the largest 
percentage decline, with a loss of 14.5 percent over the year, 
compared with a national job decrease of 5.3 percent. Two-thirds of 
the employment decline in Elkhart occurred in manufacturing, which 
lost 10,868 jobs over the year (-21.6 percent). Yakima County, Wash., 
experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in 
employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a gain of 1.7 
percent.  
 
The U.S. average weekly wage fell over the year by 0.1 percent in the 
third quarter of 2009. This is the first time there has been an over-
the-year average weekly wage decline for three consecutive quarters, 
and this decline is one of only five declines dating back to 1978, 
when these quarterly data were first comparable. (See Technical 
Note.) Employment and wage losses in the relatively high paid 
financial activities and manufacturing supersectors contributed 
significantly to the over-the-year decline in the U.S. average weekly 
wages for third quarter 2009. Average weekly wages fell 2.3 percent 
in financial activities and 0.2 percent in manufacturing. Among the 
large counties in the U.S., Rutherford, Tenn., had the largest over-
the-year decrease in average weekly wages in the third quarter of 
2009, with a loss of 13.2 percent. Within Rutherford, manufacturing 
had the largest over-the-year decline in average weekly wages with a 
loss of 27.9 percent. Bell, Texas, experienced the largest growth in 
average weekly wages with a gain of 6.6 percent. 

Table A.  Top 10 large counties ranked by September 2009 employment, September 2008-09 employment 
decrease, and September 2008-09 percent decrease in employment  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Employment in large counties
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     September 2009 employment    |      Decrease in employment,     |  Percent decrease in employment, 
            (thousands)           |         September 2008-09        |         September 2008-09
                                  |            (thousands)           |                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 United States           128,088.7| United States            -7,109.1| United States                -5.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 Los Angeles, Calif.       3,858.5| Los Angeles, Calif.        -278.0| Elkhart, Ind.               -14.5
 Cook, Ill.                2,364.2| Maricopa, Ariz.            -155.0| Trumbull, Ohio              -11.0
 New York, N.Y.            2,240.3| Cook, Ill.                 -140.1| Clark, Nev.                 -10.6
 Harris, Texas             1,979.6| Orange, Calif.             -126.4| Catawba, N.C.               -10.4
 Maricopa, Ariz.           1,605.7| New York, N.Y.             -125.1| Macomb, Mich.               -10.3
 Dallas, Texas             1,405.1| Clark, Nev.                 -95.4| Collier, Fla.               -10.0
 Orange, Calif.            1,340.7| San Diego, Calif.           -88.3| Oakland, Mich.               -9.8
 San Diego, Calif.         1,229.1| Dallas, Texas               -76.9| Washoe, Nev.                 -9.6
 King, Wash.               1,122.7| Santa Clara, Calif.         -76.3| Marion, Fla.                 -9.5
 Miami-Dade, Fla.            935.1| King, Wash.                 -72.9| Winnebago, Ill.              -9.3
                                  |                                  |                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Of the 334 largest counties in the United States (as measured by 2008 
annual average employment), 147 had over-the-year percentage declines 
in employment greater than or equal to the national average (-5.3 
percent) in September 2009; 182 large counties experienced smaller 
declines than the national average, while 2 counties experienced 
employment gains. The percent change in average weekly wages was 
equal to or lower than the national average (-0.1 percent) in 131 of 
the largest U.S. counties and was above the national average in 198 
counties.  
  
The employment and average weekly wage data by county are compiled 
under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, 
also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from reports 
submitted by every employer subject to unemployment insurance (UI) 
laws. The 9.1 million employer reports cover 128.1 million full- and 
part-time workers.  
 
Large County Employment 
 
In September 2009, national employment, as measured by the QCEW 
program, was 128.1 million, down by 5.3 percent from September 2008. 
The 334 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 
71.1 percent of total U.S. employment and 76.6 percent of total 
wages. These 334 counties had a net job decline of 5,262,400 over the 
year, accounting for 74.0 percent of the overall U.S. employment 
decrease.  
 
Employment declined in 329 counties from September 2008 to September 
2009. The largest percentage decline in employment was in Elkhart, 
Ind. (-14.5 percent). Trumbull, Ohio, had the next largest percentage 
decline (-11.0 percent), followed by the counties of Clark, Nev. (-
10.6 percent), Catawba, N.C. (-10.4 percent), and Macomb, Mich. (-
10.3 percent). The largest decline in employment levels occurred in 
Los Angeles, Calif. (-278,000), followed by the counties of Maricopa, 
Ariz. (-155,000), Cook, Ill. (-140,100), Orange, Calif. (-126,400), 
and New York, N.Y. (-125,100). (See table A.) Combined employment 
losses in these five counties over the year totaled 824,600 or 11.6 
percent of the employment decline for the U.S. as a whole. 

Table B.  Top 10 large counties ranked by third quarter 2009 average weekly wages, third quarter 2008-09 
decrease in average weekly wages, and third quarter 2008-09 percent decrease in average weekly wages 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Average weekly wage in large counties
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Average weekly wage,      |    Decrease in average weekly    |    Percent decrease in average 
         third quarter 2009       |    wage, third quarter 2008-09   |         weekly wage, third
                                  |                                  |          quarter 2008-09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 United States                $840| United States                 -$1| United States                -0.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 Santa Clara, Calif.        $1,506| Rutherford, Tenn.           -$111| Rutherford, Tenn.           -13.2
 New York, N.Y.              1,500| San Mateo, Calif.             -67| Trumbull, Ohio               -8.3
 Washington, D.C.            1,450| Trumbull, Ohio                -59| Olmsted, Minn.               -5.8
 Arlington, Va.              1,413| Hennepin, Minn.               -56| Santa Cruz, Calif.           -5.5
 Fairfax, Va.                1,321| Olmsted, Minn.                -55| Lake, Ind.                   -5.2
 San Francisco, Calif.       1,309| New York, N.Y.                -53| Hennepin, Minn.              -5.1
 San Mateo, Calif.           1,306| Santa Cruz, Calif.            -44| San Mateo, Calif.            -4.9
 Suffolk, Mass.              1,306| San Francisco, Calif.         -43| Lorain, Ohio                 -4.1
 Fairfield, Conn.            1,268| Fairfield, Conn.              -43| Williamson, Tenn.            -4.1
 Somerset, N.J.              1,244| Lake, Ind.                    -40| New York, N.Y.               -3.4
                                  |                                  |                                  
                                  |                                  |                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Employment rose in two of the large counties from September 2008 to 
September 2009. Yakima, Wash., had the largest over-the-year 
percentage increase in employment (1.7 percent) among the largest 
counties in the U.S. Bronx, N.Y., had the other employment increase 
(0.2 percent).  
 
Large County Average Weekly Wages 
 
Average weekly wages for the nation fell 0.1 percent over the year in 
the third quarter of 2009. This is the third consecutive over-the-
year decline in average weekly wages and one of only five declines 
dating back to 1978. Among the 334 largest counties, 131 had over-
the-year decreases in average weekly wages in the third quarter. The 
largest wage loss occurred in Rutherford, Tenn., with a decline of 
13.2 percent from the third quarter of 2008. Trumbull, Ohio, had the 
second largest decline (-8.3 percent), followed by the counties of 
Olmsted, Minn. (-5.8 percent), Santa Cruz, Calif. (-5.5 percent), and 
Lake, Ind. (-5.2 percent). (See table B.) 
 
Of the 334 largest counties, 189 experienced growth in average weekly 
wages. Bell, Texas, led the nation in growth in average weekly wages 
with an increase of 6.6 percent from the third quarter of 2008. 
Within Bell County, large wage gains occurred in federal government 
where average weekly wages grew 18.1 percent over the year. Harford, 
Md., had the second largest overall increase (6.2 percent), followed 
by the counties of Cumberland, N.C. (6.1 percent), Madison, Ala. (5.8 
percent), and Arlington, Va. (4.8 percent). 
 
The national average weekly wage in the third quarter of 2009 was 
$840. Average weekly wages were higher than the national average in 
112 of the 334 largest U.S. counties. Santa Clara, Calif., held the 
top position among the highest-paid large counties with an average 
weekly wage of $1,506. New York, N.Y., was second with an average 
weekly wage of $1,500, followed by Washington, D.C. ($1,450), 
Arlington, Va. ($1,413), and Fairfax, Va. ($1,321). There were 222 
counties with an average weekly wage below the national average in 
the third quarter of 2009. The lowest average weekly wage was 
reported in Horry, S.C. ($534), followed by the counties of Cameron, 
Texas ($553), Hidalgo, Texas ($564), Webb, Texas ($574), and Yakima, 
Wash. ($584). (See table 1.) 
 
Average weekly wages are affected not only by changes in total wages 
but also by employment changes in high- and low-paying industries. 
(See Technical Note.) The 0.1-percent over-the-year decrease in 
average weekly wages for the nation was partially due to large 
employment declines in high-paying industries such as manufacturing. 
(See table 2.)  
 
Ten Largest U.S. Counties 
 
All of the 10 largest counties (based on 2008 annual average 
employment levels) experienced over-the-year percent declines in 
employment in September 2009. Maricopa, Ariz., experienced the 
largest decline in employment among the 10 largest counties with an 
8.8 percent decrease. Within Maricopa, every private industry group 
except education and health services experienced an employment 
decline, with construction experiencing the largest decline (-32.2 
percent). (See table 2.) Orange, Calif., had the next largest decline 
in employment, 8.6 percent, followed by San Diego, Calif., and Los 
Angeles, Calif. (-6.7 percent each). Harris, Texas, experienced the 
smallest decline in employment (-3.4 percent) among the 10 largest 
counties. Dallas, Texas (-5.2 percent), and New York, N.Y. (-5.3 
percent), had the second and third smallest employment losses 
respectively.  
 
Eight of the 10 largest U.S. counties saw an over-the-year decrease 
in average weekly wages. New York, N.Y., experienced the largest 
decline in average weekly wages among the 10 largest counties with a 
decrease of 3.4 percent. Within New York County, financial activities 
sustained the largest total wage loss (-$2.3 billion) over the year. 
Average weekly wages for this supersector fell by 7.3 percent. New 
York’s average weekly wage loss was followed by Cook, Ill. (-1.4 
percent), and Dallas, Texas (-1.1 percent). King, Wash., and 
Maricopa, Ariz., had the only wage increases among the 10 largest 
counties, with increases of 1.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.  
 
Largest County by State 
 
Table 3 shows September 2009 employment and the 2009 third quarter 
average weekly wage in the largest county in each state, which is 
based on 2008 annual average employment levels. The employment levels 
in the counties in table 3 in September 2009 ranged from 3.9 million 
in Los Angeles County, Calif., to 43,500 in Laramie County, Wyo. The 
highest average weekly wage of these counties was in New York, N.Y. 
($1,500), while the lowest average weekly wage was in Yellowstone, 
Mont. ($691). 
 
For More Information 
 
The tables included in this release contain data for the nation and 
for the 334 U.S. counties with annual average employment levels of 
75,000 or more in 2008. September 2009 employment and 2009 third 
quarter average weekly wages for all states are provided in table 4 
of this release. 
 
For additional information about the quarterly employment and wages 
data, please read the Technical Note. Data for the third quarter of 
2009 will be available later at http://www.bls.gov/cew/. Additional 
information about the QCEW data may be obtained by calling (202) 691-
6567. 
 
Several BLS regional offices are issuing QCEW news releases targeted 
to local data users. For links to these releases, see 
http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewregional.htm. 
 
   
The County Employment and Wages release for fourth quarter 2009 is 
scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 7, 2010. 

Technical Note 
 
 
These data are the product of a federal-state cooperative program, the Quarterly 
Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. 
The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered 
by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State 
Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The summaries are a result of the administration of 
state unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay quarterly 
taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI. QCEW data in this 
release are based on the 2007 North American Industry Classification System. Data 
for 2009 are preliminary and subject to revision. 

For purposes of this release, large counties are defined as having employment le-
vels of 75,000 or greater. In addition, data for San Juan, Puerto Rico, are pro-
vided, but not used in calculating U.S. averages, rankings, or in the analysis in 
the text. Each year, these large counties are selected on the basis of the prelimi-
nary annual average of employment for the previous year. The 335 counties presented 
in this release were derived using 2008 preliminary annual averages of employment. 
For 2009 data, two counties have been added to the publication tables: Johnson, 
Iowa, and Gregg, Texas. These counties will be included in all 2009 quarterly re-
leases. Two counties, Boone, Ky., and St. Tammany, La., which were published in the 
2008 releases, will be excluded from this and future 2009 releases because their 
2008 annual average employment levels were less than 75,000. The counties in table 
2 are selected and sorted each year based on the annual average employment from the 
preceding year. 

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released 
by the individual states. These potential differences result from the states' con-
tinuing receipt of UI data over time and ongoing review and editing. The individual 
states determine their data release timetables. 
 
Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES employment measures 

The Bureau publishes three different establishment-based employment measures for 
any given quarter. Each of these measures--QCEW, Business Employment Dynamics (BED), 
and Current Employment Statistics (CES)--makes use of the quarterly UI employment 
reports in producing data; however, each measure has a somewhat different universe 
coverage, estimation procedure, and publication product. 

Differences in coverage and estimation methods can result in somewhat different 
measures of employment change over time. It is important to understand program dif-
ferences and the intended uses of the program products. (See table.) Additional in-
formation on each program can be obtained from the program Web sites shown in the 
table. 

Summary of Major Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES Employment Measures

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                     
            |         QCEW        |         BED          |         CES
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Source     |--Count of UI admini-|--Count of longitudi- |--Sample survey:
            |  strative records   |  nally-linked UI ad- |  400,000 establish-
            |  submitted by 9.1   |  ministrative records|  ments
            |  million establish- |  submitted by 6.8    |
            |  ments in first     |  million private-sec-|
            |  quarter of 2009    |  tor employers       |
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Coverage   |--UI and UCFE cover- |--UI coverage, exclud-|Nonfarm wage and sal-
            |  age, including all |  ing government, pri-|  ary jobs:
            |  employers subject  |  vate households, and|--UI coverage, exclud-
            |  to state and fed-  |  establishments with |  ing agriculture, pri-
            |  eral UI laws       |  zero employment     |  vate households, and
            |                     |                      |  self-employed workers
            |                     |                      |--Other employment, in-
            |                     |                      |  cluding railroads, 
            |                     |                      |  religious organiza-
            |                     |                      |  tions, and other non-
            |                     |                      |  UI-covered jobs
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Publication|--Quarterly          |--Quarterly           |--Monthly 
 frequency  |  -7 months after the|  -8 months after the |  -Usually first Friday
            |   end of each quar- |   end of each quarter|   of following month
            |   ter               |                      |
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Use of UI  |--Directly summarizes|--Links each new UI   |--Uses UI file as a sam-
 file       |  and publishes each |  quarter to longitu- |  pling frame and annu-
            |  new quarter of UI  |  dinal database and  |  ally realigns (bench-
            |  data               |  directly summarizes |  marks) sample esti-
            |                     |  gross job gains and |  mates to first quar-
            |                     |  losses              |  ter UI levels
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Principal  |--Provides a quarter-|--Provides quarterly  |--Provides current month-
 products   |  ly and annual uni- |  employer dynamics   |  ly estimates of employ-
            |  verse count of es- |  data on establish-  |  ment, hours, and earn-
            |  tablishments, em-  |  ment openings, clos-|  ings at the MSA, state,
            |  ployment, and wages|  ings, expansions,   |  and national level by
            |  at the county, MSA,|  and contractions at |  industry
            |  state, and national|  the national level  |
            |  levels by detailed |  by NAICS supersec-  |
            |  industry           |  tors and by size of |
            |                     |  firm, and at the    |
            |                     |  state private-sector|
            |                     |  total level         |
            |                     |--Future expansions   |
            |                     |  will include data   |
            |                     |  with greater indus- |
            |                     |  try detail and data |
            |                     |  at the county and   |  
            |                     |  MSA level           |
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Principal  |--Major uses include:|--Major uses include: |--Major uses include:
 uses       |  -Detailed locality |  -Business cycle     |  -Principal national
            |   data              |   analysis           |   economic indicator
            |  -Periodic universe |  -Analysis of employ-|  -Official time series 
            |   counts for bench- |   er dynamics under- |   for employment change
            |   marking sample    |   lying economic ex- |   measures
            |   survey estimates  |   pansions and con-  |  -Input into other ma-
            |  -Sample frame for  |   tractions          |   jor economic indi-
            |   BLS establishment |  -Analysis of employ-|   cators
            |   surveys           |   ment expansion and |
            |                     |   contraction by size|   
            |                     |   of firm            |
            |                     |                      |
 -----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
 Program    |--www.bls.gov/cew/   |--www.bls.gov/bdm/    |--www.bls.gov/ces/
 Web sites  |                     |                      |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
 
Coverage 

Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws are compiled from 
quarterly contribution reports submitted to the SWAs by employers. For federal ci-
vilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees 
(UCFE) program, employment and wage data are compiled from quarterly reports sub-
mitted by four major federal payroll processing centers on behalf of all federal 
agencies, with the exception of a few agencies which still report directly to the 
individual SWA. In addition to the quarterly contribution reports, employers who 
operate multiple establishments within a state complete a questionnaire, called the 
"Multiple Worksite Report," which provides detailed information on the location and 
industry of each of their establishments. QCEW employment and wage data are derived 
from microdata summaries of 9.1 million employer reports of employment and wages 
submitted by states to the BLS in 2008. These reports are based on place of employ-
ment rather than place of residence. 

UI and UCFE coverage is broad and has been basically comparable from state to state 
since 1978, when the 1976 amendments to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act became ef-
fective, expanding coverage to include most State and local government employees. 
In 2008, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 134.8 million jobs. The estimated 
129.4 million workers in these jobs (after adjustment for multiple jobholders) 
represented 95.5 percent of civilian wage and salary employment. Covered workers 
received $6.142 trillion in pay, representing 93.8 percent of the wage and salary 
component of personal income and 42.5 percent of the gross domestic product. 

Major exclusions from UI coverage include self-employed workers, most agricultural 
workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials in most 
states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most student workers at 
schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit organizations. 

State and federal UI laws change periodically. These changes may have an impact on 
the employment and wages reported by employers covered under the UI program. Cover-
age changes may affect the over-the-year comparisons presented in this news re-
lease. 
 
Concepts and methodology 

Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during or received 
pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month. With few exceptions, all 
employees of covered firms are reported, including production and sales workers, 
corporation officials, executives, supervisory personnel, and clerical workers.  
Workers on paid vacations and part-time workers also are included. 

Average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the 
average of the three monthly employment levels (all employees, as described above) 
and dividing the result by 13, for the 13 weeks in the quarter. These calculations 
are made using unrounded employment and wage values. The average wage values that 
can be calculated using rounded data from the BLS database may differ from the av-
erages reported. Included in the quarterly wage data are non-wage cash payments 
such as bonuses, the cash value of meals and lodging when supplied, tips and other 
gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred compen-
sation plans such as 401(k) plans and stock options. Over-the-year comparisons of 
average weekly wages may reflect fluctuations in average monthly employment and/or 
total quarterly wages between the current quarter and prior year levels. 

Average weekly wages are affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time workers as 
well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying occupations and the 
incidence of pay periods within a quarter. For instance, the average weekly wage of 
the work force could increase significantly when there is a large decline in the 
number of employees that had been receiving below-average wages. Wages may include 
payments to workers not present in the employment counts because they did not work 
during the pay period including the 12th of the month. When comparing average week-
ly wage levels between industries, states, or quarters, these factors should be 
taken into consideration. 

Federal government pay levels are subject to periodic, sometimes large, fluctua-
tions due to a calendar effect that consists of some quarters having more pay pe-
riods than others. Most federal employees are paid on a biweekly pay schedule. As a 
result of this schedule, in some quarters, federal wages contain payments for six 
pay periods, while in other quarters their wages include payments for seven pay pe-
riods. Over-the-year comparisons of average weekly wages may reflect this calendar 
effect. Higher growth in average weekly wages may be attributed, in part, to a com-
parison of quarterly wages for the current year, which include seven pay periods, 
with year-ago wages that reflect only six pay periods. An opposite effect will oc-
cur when wages in the current period, which contain six pay periods, are compared 
with year-ago wages that include seven pay periods. The effect on over-the-year pay 
comparisons can be pronounced in federal government due to the uniform nature of 
federal payroll processing. This pattern may exist in private sector pay; however, 
because there are more pay period types (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly) it 
is less pronounced. The effect is most visible in counties with large concentra-
tions of federal employment. 

In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, states verify with employ-
ers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership classification 
of all establishments on a 4-year cycle. Changes in establishment classification 
codes resulting from this process are introduced with the data reported for the 
first quarter of the year. Changes resulting from improved employer reporting also 
are introduced in the first quarter. 

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of indi-
vidual establishment records and reflect the number of establishments that exist in 
a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a 
county or industry for a number of reasons--some reflecting economic events, others 
reflecting administrative changes. For example, economic change would come from a 
firm relocating into the county; administrative change would come from a company 
correcting its county designation. 

The over-the-year changes of employment and wages presented in this release have 
been adjusted to account for most of the administrative corrections made to the un-
derlying establishment reports. This is done by modifying the prior-year levels 
used to calculate the over-the-year changes. Percent changes are calculated using 
an adjusted version of the final 2008 quarterly data as the base data. The adjusted 
prior-year levels used to calculate the over-the-year percent change in employment 
and wages are not published. These adjusted prior-year levels do not match the un-
adjusted data maintained on the BLS Web site. Over-the-year change calculations 
based on data from the Web site, or from data published in prior BLS news releases, 
may differ substantially from the over-the-year changes presented in this news re-
lease. 

The adjusted data used to calculate the over-the-year change measures presented in 
this release account for most of the administrative changes--those occurring when 
employers update the industry, location, and ownership information of their estab-
lishments. The most common adjustments for administrative change are the result of 
updated information about the county location of individual establishments. In-
cluded in these adjustments are administrative changes involving the classification 
of establishments that were previously reported in the unknown or statewide county 
or unknown industry categories. Beginning with the first quarter of 2008, adjusted 
data account for administrative changes caused by multi-unit employers who start 
reporting for each individual establishment rather than as a single entity. 

The adjusted data used to calculate the over-the-year change measures presented in 
any County Employment and Wages news release are valid for comparisons between the 
starting and ending points (a 12-month period) used in that particular release. 
Comparisons may not be valid for any time period other than the one featured in a 
release even if the changes were calculated using adjusted data.
 
County definitions are assigned according to Federal Information Processing Stan-
dards Publications (FIPS PUBS) as issued by the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 5131 of 
the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 and the Computer Security 
Act of 1987, Public Law 104-106. Areas shown as counties include those designated 
as independent cities in some jurisdictions and, in Alaska, those designated as 
census areas where counties have not been created. County data also are presented 
for the New England states for comparative purposes even though townships are the 
more common designation used in New England (and New Jersey). The regions referred 
to in this release are defined as census regions. 
 
Additional statistics and other information 

An annual bulletin, Employment and Wages, features comprehensive information by de-
tailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all 
states. The 2008 edition of this bulletin contains selected data produced by Busi-
ness Employment Dynamics (BED) on job gains and losses, as well as selected data 
from the first quarter 2009 version of this news release. Tables and additional 
content from the 2008 Employment and Wages Annual Bulletin are now available online 
at http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewbultn08.htm. These tables present final 2008 annual 
averages.  The tables are included on the CD which accompanies the hardcopy version 
of the Annual Bulletin.  Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 2008 will be available 
for sale as a chartbook from the United States Government Printing Office, Superin-
tendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250, telephone (866) 512-
1800, outside Washington, D.C. Within Washington, D.C., the telephone number is 
(202) 512-1800. The fax number is (202) 512-2104. 

News releases on quarterly measures of gross job flows also are available upon re-
quest from the Division of Administrative Statistics and Labor Turnover (Business 
Employment Dynamics), telephone (202) 691-6467; (http://www.bls.gov/bdm/); (e-mail: 
BDMInfo@bls.gov). 

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals 
upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-
800-877-8339.





Table 1. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the 335 largest counties,
third quarter 2009(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                     Employment               Average weekly wage(4)   
                                                                                                       
                          Establishments,                                                              
        County(3)          third quarter                Percent   Ranking            Percent   Ranking 
                                2009       September    change,      by    Average   change,      by   
                            (thousands)       2009     September  percent   weekly    third    percent 
                                          (thousands) 2008-09(5)   change    wage    quarter    change 
                                                                                   2008-09(5)          
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
United States(6).........       9,066.0     128,088.7      -5.3         -     $840      -0.1         - 
                                                                                                       
Jefferson, AL............          18.3         333.2      -7.0       267      861      -0.5       230 
Madison, AL..............           8.8         178.2      -2.8        39      967       5.8         4 
Mobile, AL...............           9.8         163.7      -6.8       263      744       4.2         9 
Montgomery, AL...........           6.4         129.6      -6.1       226      743       2.2        55 
Shelby, AL...............           4.9          70.2      -7.4       287      792      -1.7       290 
Tuscaloosa, AL...........           4.3          82.1      -6.2       235      730       0.1       177 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           8.1         150.4      -1.2        10      942       2.1        60 
Maricopa, AZ.............          98.8       1,605.7      -8.8       318      838       0.4       159 
Pima, AZ.................          20.3         349.0      -6.1       226      753       0.9       118 
Benton, AR...............           5.5          91.2      -4.2       108      755      -1.0       260 
                                                                                                       
Pulaski, AR..............          15.0         241.7      -4.2       108      789       2.6        33 
Washington, AR...........           5.6          89.1      -3.4        68      687       1.0       113 
Alameda, CA..............          52.9         628.5      -8.3       308    1,101      -1.4       280 
Butte, CA................           7.9          72.0      -6.2       235      668       1.4        96 
Contra Costa, CA.........          29.5         316.7      -6.7       256    1,027      -0.8       248 
Fresno, CA...............          30.3         345.8      -7.4       287      672       2.1        60 
Kern, CA.................          17.9         275.4      -6.2       235      730      -1.9       295 
Los Angeles, CA..........         422.5       3,858.5      -6.7       256      942      -0.8       248 
Marin, CA................          11.6         100.2      -8.3       308    1,021      -0.6       237 
Monterey, CA.............          12.6         177.4      -4.1       100      740      -1.2       273 
                                                                                                       
Orange, CA...............          99.8       1,340.7      -8.6       314      948      -0.7       244 
Placer, CA...............          10.7         123.2      -9.1       321      832       0.8       124 
Riverside, CA............          47.1         549.0      -8.7       317      711      -0.4       219 
Sacramento, CA...........          53.5         590.8      -5.5       194      943      -0.9       252 
San Bernardino, CA.......          49.5         594.0      -7.9       302      748       1.1       109 
San Diego, CA............          96.5       1,229.1      -6.7       256      918      -0.4       219 
San Francisco, CA........          51.5         544.0      -5.3       185    1,309      -3.2       315 
San Joaquin, CA..........          17.6         209.5      -7.3       281      745       0.1       177 
San Luis Obispo, CA......           9.5          98.0      -6.5       253      722       1.0       113 
San Mateo, CA............          23.5         318.0      -7.3       281    1,306      -4.9       323 
                                                                                                       
Santa Barbara, CA........          14.2         179.4      -5.9       219      796       1.5        89 
Santa Clara, CA..........          60.1         835.1      -8.4       312    1,506      -1.6       285 
Santa Cruz, CA...........           9.0          97.6      -4.0        94      754      -5.5       326 
Solano, CA...............          10.0         120.5      -5.2       176      855       0.1       177 
Sonoma, CA...............          18.5         177.1      -8.2       304      821      -0.4       219 
Stanislaus, CA...........          14.9         166.0      -6.3       240      737       2.2        55 
Tulare, CA...............           9.5         149.1      -6.3       240      604       0.8       124 
Ventura, CA..............          23.4         292.4      -7.4       287      865      -0.2       207 
Yolo, CA.................           5.9          99.1      -4.8       148      838       1.0       113 
Adams, CO................           9.2         149.8      -5.8       211      788      -0.1       199 
                                                                                                       
Arapahoe, CO.............          19.4         271.1      -4.3       116      990      -1.2       273 
Boulder, CO..............          13.0         152.4      -4.7       140      976      -3.1       312 
Denver, CO...............          25.6         419.3      -7.0       267    1,040       0.0       190 
Douglas, CO..............           9.6          89.7      -5.4       189      904       4.4         8 
El Paso, CO..............          17.3         233.4      -4.8       148      798       2.4        45 
Jefferson, CO............          18.4         203.3      -4.5       128      880       0.8       124 
Larimer, CO..............          10.3         127.3      -4.9       162      772       0.3       163 
Weld, CO.................           6.0          78.6      -7.0       267      716      -1.6       285 
Fairfield, CT............          32.9         398.9      -4.8       148    1,268      -3.3       318 
Hartford, CT.............          25.5         484.1      -4.7       140    1,020       0.8       124 
                                                                                                       
New Haven, CT............          22.5         347.5      -4.5       128      912       0.1       177 
New London, CT...........           7.0         126.6      -4.4       121      870       0.8       124 
New Castle, DE...........          18.0         263.6      -5.8       211      985       0.6       143 
Washington, DC...........          34.4         682.6      -1.1         9    1,450       4.2         9 
Alachua, FL..............           6.6         115.7      -5.5       194      744       2.9        22 
Brevard, FL..............          14.6         187.2      -5.6       200      808       2.0        65 
Broward, FL..............          62.7         673.9      -7.3       281      797      -0.1       199 
Collier, FL..............          11.8         104.6     -10.0       326      739      -1.1       266 
Duval, FL................          26.7         430.1      -6.0       224      810       1.1       109 
Escambia, FL.............           7.9         118.9      -5.0       166      684       2.5        38 
                                                                                                       
Hillsborough, FL.........          37.0         560.0      -7.3       281      830       2.6        33 
Lake, FL.................           7.3          78.8      -6.7       256      591      -1.7       290 
Lee, FL..................          18.7         186.1      -8.4       312      703      -0.3       213 
Leon, FL.................           8.1         138.6      -3.2        61      747       0.0       190 
Manatee, FL..............           9.1         104.7      -6.9       266      659       0.2       170 
Marion, FL...............           8.1          89.3      -9.5       323      607       0.7       136 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          84.1         935.1      -5.8       211      839      -0.2       207 
Okaloosa, FL.............           6.0          76.4      -3.1        50      701       1.7        77 
Orange, FL...............          35.1         638.4      -6.8       263      759      -0.5       230 
Palm Beach, FL...........          49.0         480.8      -7.5       293      810      -0.4       219 
                                                                                                       
Pasco, FL................           9.8          94.6      -4.6       135      590      -0.7       244 
Pinellas, FL.............          30.8         387.4      -6.7       256      738       0.3       163 
Polk, FL.................          12.4         186.2      -6.3       240      680       0.1       177 
Sarasota, FL.............          14.7         130.7      -7.7       298      707      -0.4       219 
Seminole, FL.............          14.1         155.8      -8.9       319      696      -2.2       297 
Volusia, FL..............          13.6         149.3      -7.3       281      618       0.8       124 
Bibb, GA.................           4.7          80.2      -5.9       219      682       1.9        67 
Chatham, GA..............           7.7         127.0      -6.3       240      732       1.0       113 
Clayton, GA..............           4.4         107.6      -4.0        94      786      -0.3       213 
Cobb, GA.................          20.7         293.0      -7.2       277      898      -1.1       266 
                                                                                                       
De Kalb, GA..............          17.6         275.6      -5.9       219      897       1.6        82 
Fulton, GA...............          39.4         693.5      -6.7       256    1,087       0.6       143 
Gwinnett, GA.............          23.8         292.8      -7.8       301      832      -1.3       278 
Muscogee, GA.............           4.7          91.1      -4.5       128      700       3.7        14 
Richmond, GA.............           4.8          97.3      -4.4       121      746       1.9        67 
Honolulu, HI.............          25.1         428.1      -4.0        94      818       2.4        45 
Ada, ID..................          14.6         193.3      -8.3       308      754       1.2       106 
Champaign, IL............           4.2          88.7      -4.8       148      745       2.3        53 
Cook, IL.................         142.0       2,364.2      -5.6       200      975      -1.4       280 
Du Page, IL..............          36.2         547.3      -6.8       263      964      -2.7       307 
                                                                                                       
Kane, IL.................          12.9         192.5      -8.2       304      759      -0.5       230 
Lake, IL.................          21.2         316.8      -6.2       235    1,001      -3.3       318 
McHenry, IL..............           8.5          95.9      -7.7       298      705      -3.0       311 
McLean, IL...............           3.7          84.0      -3.8        83      834       2.2        55 
Madison, IL..............           6.0          92.5      -4.3       116      720       0.1       177 
Peoria, IL...............           4.7          97.6      -8.3       308      803      -0.9       252 
Rock Island, IL..........           3.5          74.3      -7.1       272      859       3.9        11 
St. Clair, IL............           5.5          93.6      -4.9       162      711       2.4        45 
Sangamon, IL.............           5.3         125.9      -3.1        50      880       3.7        14 
Will, IL.................          14.2         189.6      -5.8       211      746      -1.2       273 
                                                                                                       
Winnebago, IL............           6.9         123.5      -9.3       322      738       0.1       177 
Allen, IN................           9.0         171.3      -6.1       226      701      -0.3       213 
Elkhart, IN..............           4.9          95.6     -14.5       331      682       2.4        45 
Hamilton, IN.............           7.9         108.4      -6.3       240      790      -2.2       297 
Lake, IN.................          10.3         184.3      -6.2       235      731      -5.2       325 
Marion, IN...............          23.9         546.7      -5.1       169      856       0.2       170 
St. Joseph, IN...........           6.1         114.7      -7.0       267      709       0.1       177 
Tippecanoe, IN...........           3.3          72.1      -7.1       272      740       2.2        55 
Vanderburgh, IN..........           4.8         103.4      -4.8       148      702       0.0       190 
Johnson, IA..............           3.5          74.9      -1.6        15      793       0.5       148 
                                                                                                       
Linn, IA.................           6.3         123.0      -2.9        41      802      -2.8       308 
Polk, IA.................          14.8         267.5      -3.3        64      831       0.0       190 
Scott, IA................           5.3          85.2      -5.7       205      686      -1.3       278 
Johnson, KS..............          20.9         299.4      -5.6       200      858      -0.9       252 
Sedgwick, KS.............          12.5         241.5      -6.1       226      755      -0.9       252 
Shawnee, KS..............           4.9          92.9      -3.6        76      724       1.5        89 
Wyandotte, KS............           3.2          78.8      -2.7        35      812      -2.2       297 
Fayette, KY..............           9.2         171.0      -3.1        50      766       1.6        82 
Jefferson, KY............          21.7         409.1      -3.8        83      812       1.2       106 
Caddo, LA................           7.4         120.2      -4.0        94      708      -1.7       290 
                                                                                                       
Calcasieu, LA............           4.9          83.0      -3.6        76      726      -2.3       302 
East Baton Rouge, LA.....          14.6         259.3      -0.8         6      815       2.6        33 
Jefferson, LA............          14.1         192.7      -1.2        10      787       1.4        96 
Lafayette, LA............           9.0         128.5      -4.7       140      802      -2.8       308 
Orleans, LA..............          10.7         166.3      -1.3        14      925       0.8       124 
Cumberland, ME...........          12.2         167.8      -3.9        89      773       0.8       124 
Anne Arundel, MD.........          14.3         227.3      -2.9        41      927       3.5        17 
Baltimore, MD............          21.2         360.6      -4.1       100      873       1.6        82 
Frederick, MD............           5.9          91.7      -3.7        78      844       2.7        27 
Harford, MD..............           5.6          81.1      -2.7        35      834       6.2         2 
                                                                                                       
Howard, MD...............           8.7         143.9      -3.7        78    1,021       3.9        11 
Montgomery, MD...........          32.3         443.0      -3.1        50    1,144       2.1        60 
Prince Georges, MD.......          15.6         300.8      -4.1       100      951       1.9        67 
Baltimore City, MD.......          13.7         324.3      -4.2       108      981      -0.2       207 
Barnstable, MA...........           9.0          94.4      -2.6        29      706      -0.3       213 
Bristol, MA..............          15.4         206.7      -5.2       176      753       0.4       159 
Essex, MA................          20.8         291.9      -3.3        64      889       0.0       190 
Hampden, MA..............          14.7         192.8      -3.7        78      799       1.8        70 
Middlesex, MA............          47.3         791.7      -4.3       116    1,194      -0.3       213 
Norfolk, MA..............          23.4         310.9      -4.4       121      968      -0.1       199 
                                                                                                       
Plymouth, MA.............          13.6         171.5      -3.4        68      789       0.5       148 
Suffolk, MA..............          21.9         571.3      -3.9        89    1,306      -1.1       266 
Worcester, MA............          20.6         306.2      -4.8       148      854      -0.5       230 
Genesee, MI..............           7.6         127.7      -6.1       226      719      -2.3       302 
Ingham, MI...............           6.7         149.4      -6.4       249      820       1.5        89 
Kalamazoo, MI............           5.5         108.0      -5.8       211      768      -2.2       297 
Kent, MI.................          14.2         304.3      -7.6       295      768       1.3       103 
Macomb, MI...............          17.4         269.4     -10.3       327      854       0.1       177 
Oakland, MI..............          38.4         607.3      -9.8       325      937      -3.1       312 
Ottawa, MI...............           5.7         102.8      -7.6       295      685      -3.2       315 
                                                                                                       
Saginaw, MI..............           4.3          80.3      -4.8       148      704       0.6       143 
Washtenaw, MI............           8.0         180.4      -4.2       108      958       1.5        89 
Wayne, MI................          31.6         660.0      -8.6       314      918      -2.5       306 
Anoka, MN................           7.6         106.5      -7.4       287      764      -0.8       248 
Dakota, MN...............          10.3         166.6      -4.8       148      798      -0.4       219 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.3         794.9      -5.5       194    1,047      -5.1       324 
Olmsted, MN..............           3.5          87.5      -3.5        73      894      -5.8       327 
Ramsey, MN...............          14.8         317.2      -5.7       205      920      -1.4       280 
St. Louis, MN............           5.8          92.0      -6.3       240      690      -1.0       260 
Stearns, MN..............           4.4          77.6      -5.6       200      703       2.9        22 
                                                                                                       
Harrison, MS.............           4.6          84.1      -2.9        41      652      -1.8       293 
Hinds, MS................           6.3         124.1      -2.3        25      760       2.4        45 
Boone, MO................           4.5          80.7      -3.1        50      691       4.7         6 
Clay, MO.................           5.0          86.6      -5.7       205      785       2.7        27 
Greene, MO...............           8.1         148.8      -5.2       176      666       2.0        65 
Jackson, MO..............          18.4         353.1      -4.4       121      858       0.7       136 
St. Charles, MO..........           8.2         118.0      -4.8       148      679      -2.4       304 
St. Louis, MO............          32.2         568.8      -5.7       205      893       0.2       170 
St. Louis City, MO.......           8.6         219.5       (7)         -      904       (7)         - 
Yellowstone, MT..........           5.9          76.6      -2.6        29      691       0.1       177 
                                                                                                       
Douglas, NE..............          15.8         311.0      -2.9        41      795      -3.2       315 
Lancaster, NE............           8.2         154.5      -2.9        41      698       1.6        82 
Clark, NV................          49.7         808.7     -10.6       329      804      -1.0       260 
Washoe, NV...............          14.4         188.2      -9.6       324      800       0.5       148 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.1         186.2      -5.3       185      933       0.8       124 
Rockingham, NH...........          10.8         132.7      -4.3       116      792      -0.6       237 
Atlantic, NJ.............           6.9         137.8      -6.3       240      737      -0.5       230 
Bergen, NJ...............          34.0         425.1      -4.7       140    1,035       0.3       163 
Burlington, NJ...........          11.3         194.5      -3.1        50      904       0.7       136 
Camden, NJ...............          12.9         196.8      -4.8       148      845      -0.6       237 
                                                                                                       
Essex, NJ................          21.1         340.6      -4.2       108    1,059       1.7        77 
Gloucester, NJ...........           6.3          99.1      -5.8       211      763      -0.4       219 
Hudson, NJ...............          13.9         229.9      -3.8        83    1,170       0.0       190 
Mercer, NJ...............          11.1         222.9      -3.5        73    1,071       0.5       148 
Middlesex, NJ............          21.8         377.8      -5.5       194    1,019      -0.9       252 
Monmouth, NJ.............          20.5         246.6      -4.2       108      889       0.1       177 
Morris, NJ...............          17.9         270.1      -5.1       169    1,203       0.4       159 
Ocean, NJ................          12.3         149.9      -2.2        24      699       1.5        89 
Passaic, NJ..............          12.4         167.0      -4.7       140      890       1.8        70 
Somerset, NJ.............          10.1         165.3      -4.9       162    1,244       0.1       177 
                                                                                                       
Union, NJ................          14.8         217.6      -5.1       169    1,036       0.2       170 
Bernalillo, NM...........          17.6         318.0      -5.4       189      776       1.7        77 
Albany, NY...............          10.0         220.9      -3.3        64      905       2.6        33 
Bronx, NY................          16.4         230.1       0.2         2      850       1.8        70 
Broome, NY...............           4.5          92.4      -3.1        50      697       0.0       190 
Dutchess, NY.............           8.2         111.1      -3.8        83      885       3.0        21 
Erie, NY.................          23.6         449.0      -3.2        61      739       0.5       148 
Kings, NY................          48.0         477.8      -0.3         4      737      -0.1       199 
Monroe, NY...............          18.0         366.8      -3.9        89      813      -0.4       219 
Nassau, NY...............          52.4         580.9      -3.1        50      922       0.8       124 
                                                                                                       
New York, NY.............         118.4       2,240.3      -5.3       185    1,500      -3.4       320 
Oneida, NY...............           5.3         108.2      -1.2        10      681       1.3       103 
Onondaga, NY.............          12.8         243.8      -4.5       128      791       (7)         - 
Orange, NY...............          10.0         128.6      -2.7        35      729       2.5        38 
Queens, NY...............          44.2         493.7      -3.3        64      843       1.0       113 
Richmond, NY.............           8.8          91.8      -1.8        16      761      -1.2       273 
Rockland, NY.............           9.8         111.5      -4.1       100      891      -1.5       283 
Saratoga, NY.............           5.4          74.4      -2.4        26      719       1.4        96 
Suffolk, NY..............          50.4         602.1      -4.1       100      955      -1.6       285 
Westchester, NY..........          36.1         400.2      -4.7       140    1,058       (7)         - 
                                                                                                       
Buncombe, NC.............           7.8         109.6      -5.1       169      669       0.9       118 
Catawba, NC..............           4.4          76.2     -10.4       328      640       0.5       148 
Cumberland, NC...........           6.2         118.4      -1.9        18      692       6.1         3 
Durham, NC...............           7.0         178.8      -3.7        78    1,148       3.2        19 
Forsyth, NC..............           9.0         175.8      -5.4       189      769       0.3       163 
Guilford, NC.............          14.3         256.5      -7.4       287      753      -0.8       248 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          32.2         534.6      -6.5       253      950      -0.9       252 
New Hanover, NC..........           7.3          96.8      -6.7       256      710       2.5        38 
Wake, NC.................          28.3         428.7      -5.4       189      837       0.5       148 
Cass, ND.................           5.9          99.2      -2.0        19      734       1.4        96 
                                                                                                       
Butler, OH...............           7.4         136.6      -7.2       277      746       1.1       109 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          36.9         687.4      -6.1       226      851      -0.2       207 
Franklin, OH.............          29.5         646.3      -4.4       121      851       0.0       190 
Hamilton, OH.............          23.6         489.7      -4.8       148      926      -1.1       266 
Lake, OH.................           6.6          92.6      -7.7       298      696       1.8        70 
Lorain, OH...............           6.2          92.1      -7.1       272      681      -4.1       321 
Lucas, OH................          10.6         199.6      -5.7       205      741       0.5       148 
Mahoning, OH.............           6.3          97.5      -4.8       148      615       0.0       190 
Montgomery, OH...........          12.6         241.8      -7.2       277      763      -2.8       308 
Stark, OH................           8.9         148.7      -7.6       295      650      -0.6       237 
                                                                                                       
Summit, OH...............          14.8         254.2      -7.2       277      758       0.5       148 
Trumbull, OH.............           4.7          67.9     -11.0       330      655      -8.3       328 
Warren, OH...............           4.2          73.8      -3.9        89      714      -0.4       219 
Oklahoma, OK.............          23.9         408.9      -4.4       121      799       1.7        77 
Tulsa, OK................          19.7         329.7      -6.4       249      772       0.7       136 
Clackamas, OR............          12.6         138.3      -8.9       319      784       0.9       118 
Jackson, OR..............           6.5          76.9      -7.9       302      645       1.6        82 
Lane, OR.................          10.9         135.0      -8.2       304      672      -1.8       293 
Marion, OR...............           9.3         137.6      -5.1       169      690       2.5        38 
Multnomah, OR............          28.2         420.9      -6.6       255      863       0.6       143 
                                                                                                       
Washington, OR...........          16.2         229.7      -7.5       293      975      -1.2       273 
Allegheny, PA............          35.1         666.5      -2.9        41      881      -0.5       230 
Berks, PA................           9.0         160.3      -4.8       148      762      -1.0       260 
Bucks, PA................          19.8         247.9      -5.3       185      824       0.7       136 
Butler, PA...............           4.8          79.1      -2.6        29      736      -1.6       285 
Chester, PA..............          15.1         232.9      -4.7       140    1,024      -0.5       230 
Cumberland, PA...........           6.0         119.7      -5.2       176      785       1.7        77 
Dauphin, PA..............           7.4         178.1      -2.9        41      820      -0.1       199 
Delaware, PA.............          13.5         202.2      -4.2       108      882       0.2       170 
Erie, PA.................           7.5         121.1      -5.9       219      676      -0.6       237 
                                                                                                       
Lackawanna, PA...........           5.9          97.7      -3.7        78      659       1.4        96 
Lancaster, PA............          12.5         217.7      -5.2       176      733       1.8        70 
Lehigh, PA...............           8.7         170.4      -4.5       128      849       2.4        45 
Luzerne, PA..............           7.8         138.0      -4.1       100      666       0.3       163 
Montgomery, PA...........          27.4         462.8      -4.6       135    1,018       0.8       124 
Northampton, PA..........           6.5          97.1      -2.8        39      746       0.4       159 
Philadelphia, PA.........          31.4         616.9      -3.1        50    1,020       0.1       177 
Washington, PA...........           5.4          78.1      -4.0        94      752       1.3       103 
Westmoreland, PA.........           9.4         130.5      -5.1       169      682      -0.9       252 
York, PA.................           9.0         168.4      -5.7       205      749       1.2       106 
                                                                                                       
Kent, RI.................           5.6          72.9      -7.3       281      736       0.7       136 
Providence, RI...........          17.8         266.0      -5.6       200      825       2.5        38 
Charleston, SC...........          12.0         199.2      -6.3       240      741       2.5        38 
Greenville, SC...........          12.4         221.3      -7.4       287      727      -0.4       219 
Horry, SC................           8.0         109.4      -7.0       267      534       0.2       170 
Lexington, SC............           5.6          91.7      -6.4       249      647      -1.1       266 
Richland, SC.............           9.2         204.5      -5.1       169      768       2.7        27 
Spartanburg, SC..........           6.1         110.7      -7.1       272      723      -1.5       283 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.5         113.2      -2.6        29      723       1.1       109 
Davidson, TN.............          18.3         416.6      -4.5       128      858      -0.2       207 
                                                                                                       
Hamilton, TN.............           8.5         176.0      -8.6       314      743       3.2        19 
Knox, TN.................          11.0         216.3      -5.2       176      715      -0.1       199 
Rutherford, TN...........           4.3          92.6      -5.8       211      730     -13.2       329 
Shelby, TN...............          19.6         468.0      -6.3       240      852      -0.6       237 
Williamson, TN...........           6.0          84.2      -4.6       135      879      -4.1       321 
Bell, TX.................           4.6         102.6      -0.7         5      696       6.6         1 
Bexar, TX................          33.0         709.3      -3.0        49      752       2.7        27 
Brazoria, TX.............           4.7          82.7      -4.2       108      780      -2.0       296 
Brazos, TX...............           3.9          86.0       (7)         -      653       (7)         - 
Cameron, TX..............           6.4         121.7      -1.0         8      553       2.8        24 
                                                                                                       
Collin, TX...............          17.4         277.9       (7)         -      976      -3.1       312 
Dallas, TX...............          67.7       1,405.1      -5.2       176    1,012      -1.1       266 
Denton, TX...............          10.7         164.8      -3.4        68      746      -0.1       199 
El Paso, TX..............          13.5         264.4      -2.5        27      619       2.8        24 
Fort Bend, TX............           8.6         127.9      -1.8        16      863      -0.7       244 
Galveston, TX............           5.2          92.5      -2.6        29      805       0.2       170 
Gregg, TX................           4.0          71.0      -4.9       162      717      -2.2       297 
Harris, TX...............          98.2       1,979.6      -3.4        68    1,044      -0.6       237 
Hidalgo, TX..............          10.6         213.5      -0.8         6      564       2.7        27 
Jefferson, TX............           5.9         118.2      -5.0       166      841       2.6        33 
                                                                                                       
Lubbock, TX..............           6.8         122.5      -2.0        19      643       0.3       163 
McLennan, TX.............           4.8         101.3      -2.1        21      692       1.8        70 
Montgomery, TX...........           8.4         124.9      -1.2        10      768      -2.4       304 
Nueces, TX...............           8.0         149.6      -3.4        68      721      -1.0       260 
Potter, TX...............           3.8          74.1      -2.1        21      721       1.5        89 
Smith, TX................           5.3          90.7      -4.0        94      738       (7)         - 
Tarrant, TX..............          37.2         740.9      -3.8        83      839      -0.1       199 
Travis, TX...............          29.4         555.4      -4.3       116      932       0.8       124 
Webb, TX.................           4.7          83.8      -5.2       176      574       2.5        38 
Williamson, TX...........           7.3         118.8      -2.5        27      792      -1.1       266 
                                                                                                       
Davis, UT................           7.2         101.0      -2.9        41      678       2.1        60 
Salt Lake, UT............          37.5         560.7      -5.0       166      800       0.5       148 
Utah, UT.................          12.8         165.2      -6.0       224      663      -0.3       213 
Weber, UT................           5.7          89.2      -6.1       226      652       2.4        45 
Chittenden, VT...........           6.0          91.9      -3.9        89      851       1.6        82 
Arlington, VA............           8.0         157.9      -0.1         3    1,413       4.8         5 
Chesterfield, VA.........           7.6         113.1      -4.7       140      779       0.5       148 
Fairfax, VA..............          34.2         568.2      -2.7        35    1,321       1.8        70 
Henrico, VA..............           9.7         167.5      -6.1       226      849      -0.7       244 
Loudoun, VA..............           9.2         128.7      -3.5        73    1,013       0.9       118 
                                                                                                       
Prince William, VA.......           7.4         102.0      -2.1        21      789       2.1        60 
Alexandria City, VA......           6.2          97.5      -2.6        29    1,212       4.6         7 
Chesapeake City, VA......           5.7          93.7      -5.8       211      696       2.4        45 
Newport News City, VA....           4.0          95.4      -3.8        83      788       2.3        53 
Norfolk City, VA.........           5.9         137.3      -4.1       100      826       1.6        82 
Richmond City, VA........           7.3         149.4      -4.6       135      952       0.7       136 
Virginia Beach City, VA..          11.5         165.6      -4.6       135      666       1.4        96 
Clark, WA................          12.9         127.8      -5.2       176      778       0.3       163 
King, WA.................          79.4       1,122.7      -6.1       226    1,177       1.4        96 
Kitsap, WA...............           6.7          81.5      -3.1        50      794       3.8        13 
                                                                                                       
Pierce, WA...............          21.4         263.5      -5.4       189      804       3.7        14 
Snohomish, WA............          18.4         240.5      -6.4       249      887       3.5        17 
Spokane, WA..............          15.9         200.9      -4.8       148      720       2.7        27 
Thurston, WA.............           7.2          97.3      -4.1       100      810       2.8        24 
Whatcom, WA..............           7.0          78.5      -5.5       194      693       2.2        55 
Yakima, WA...............           8.6         112.7       1.7         1      584       0.9       118 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.0         105.2      -3.2        61      750       1.5        89 
Brown, WI................           6.6         142.6      -4.4       121      746      -0.9       252 
Dane, WI.................          13.9         291.6      -4.5       128      822       0.6       143 
Milwaukee, WI............          20.9         470.7      -5.9       219      834      -0.2       207 
                                                                                                       
Outagamie, WI............           5.0         100.2      -5.5       194      711      -1.0       260 
Racine, WI...............           4.1          70.4      -8.2       304      742      -1.6       285 
Waukesha, WI.............          12.9         218.9      -7.1       272      834      -0.4       219 
Winnebago, WI............           3.7          87.3      -3.1        50      776       0.9       118 
San Juan, PR.............          12.3         266.2      -5.7       (8)      594       4.0       (8) 

(1) Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs. These 334 U.S. counties comprise 71.1 percent of the total covered workers
in the U.S.
(2) Data are preliminary.
(3) Includes areas not officially designated as counties. See Technical Note.
(4) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(5) Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic
county reclassifications. See Technical Note.
(6) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(7) Data do not meet BLS or State agency disclosure standards.
(8) This county was not included in the U.S. rankings.

Table 2. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the 10 largest counties,
third quarter 2009(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                                    Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                                           wage(3)     
                                              Establishments,                                          
                                               third quarter                                           
         County by NAICS supersector                2009                    Percent            Percent 
                                                (thousands)    September    change,  Average   change, 
                                                                  2009     September  weekly    third  
                                                              (thousands) 2008-09(4)   wage    quarter 
                                                                                             2008-09(4)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
United States(5).............................       9,066.0     128,088.7      -5.3     $840      -0.1 
  Private industry...........................       8,771.6     106,481.7      -6.2      828      -0.6 
    Natural resources and mining.............         126.3       1,866.9      -7.1      836      -5.1 
    Construction.............................         837.9       5,957.4     -17.9      934       1.3 
    Manufacturing............................         351.9      11,624.2     -12.9    1,005      -0.2 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....       1,892.5      24,412.0      -6.0      711      -1.0 
    Information..............................         145.9       2,767.5      -7.0    1,317      -1.3 
    Financial activities.....................         839.2       7,507.9      -5.2    1,180      -2.3 
    Professional and business services.......       1,531.0      16,316.4      -8.1    1,060       1.4 
    Education and health services............         871.0      18,290.1       1.6      819       2.0 
    Leisure and hospitality..................         741.7      13,180.4      -2.9      357      -0.3 
    Other services...........................       1,241.5       4,339.9      -3.3      543      -0.2 
  Government.................................         294.4      21,607.1      -0.4      907       2.4 
                                                                                                       
Los Angeles, CA..............................         422.5       3,858.5      -6.7      942      -0.8 
  Private industry...........................         418.6       3,306.5      -7.5      914      -1.0 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5          10.3     -12.3    1,296       5.1 
    Construction.............................          13.6         112.8     -21.8    1,023       3.1 
    Manufacturing............................          14.0         380.4     -12.7    1,025       2.8 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          52.6         728.1      -8.0      763      -1.0 
    Information..............................           8.7         194.3      -9.7    1,598       1.7 
    Financial activities.....................          23.2         216.6      -7.2    1,341      -9.6 
    Professional and business services.......          42.4         517.8     -11.1    1,124       1.5 
    Education and health services............          28.4         493.0       0.8      910       2.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          27.3         382.6      -5.2      528      -2.0 
    Other services...........................         200.1         262.2       1.6      417      -4.8 
  Government.................................           3.9         552.0      -1.9    1,113      -0.6 
                                                                                                       
Cook, IL.....................................         142.0       2,364.2      -5.6      975      -1.4 
  Private industry...........................         140.6       2,058.2      -6.3      964      -2.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.1           1.1      -6.5      973      -2.2 
    Construction.............................          12.3          76.5     -17.2    1,271      -0.9 
    Manufacturing............................           6.9         198.0     -12.0    1,004       0.1 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          27.5         430.9      -7.0      764      -2.7 
    Information..............................           2.6          52.2       (6)    1,363     -12.2 
    Financial activities.....................          15.4         192.2      -6.4    1,525      -1.6 
    Professional and business services.......          29.3         393.4      -9.4    1,241      -0.9 
    Education and health services............          14.4         386.5       1.5      864      -0.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          12.1         230.2      -2.8      443      -0.7 
    Other services...........................          14.9          92.8      -4.3      723       2.3 
  Government.................................           1.4         306.1      -0.9    1,051       4.2 
                                                                                                       
New York, NY.................................         118.4       2,240.3      -5.3    1,500      -3.4 
  Private industry...........................         118.1       1,799.5      -6.3    1,609      -3.9 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.0           0.1     -15.9    1,948       7.4 
    Construction.............................           2.3          32.4     -16.0    1,551       1.4 
    Manufacturing............................           2.7          28.2     -19.4    1,195       1.3 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          21.2         227.1      -9.0    1,107      -1.9 
    Information..............................           4.4         125.5      -7.8    1,907      -3.6 
    Financial activities.....................          18.8         344.3      -8.3    2,762      -7.3 
    Professional and business services.......          24.9         450.7      -8.5    1,793      -0.3 
    Education and health services............           8.8         284.4       0.9    1,089       2.5 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          11.8         214.6      -2.8      733      -2.0 
    Other services...........................          18.2          85.4      -4.2      935       1.7 
  Government.................................           0.3         440.8      -0.7    1,058       3.0 
                                                                                                       
Harris, TX...................................          98.2       1,979.6      -3.4    1,044      -0.6 
  Private industry...........................          97.6       1,724.8      -4.1    1,048      -1.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           1.5          81.3       (6)    2,579      -0.6 
    Construction.............................           6.7         138.7     -11.9    1,033       2.5 
    Manufacturing............................           4.6         169.4     -10.7    1,278       0.3 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          22.3         411.9      -3.7      897      -2.1 
    Information..............................           1.4          30.0      -5.5    1,217      -5.1 
    Financial activities.....................          10.4         114.4      -4.2    1,212      -5.1 
    Professional and business services.......          19.6         310.9      -7.3    1,245       0.8 
    Education and health services............          10.6         231.0       5.6      871       0.8 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.8         177.4       1.7      389       1.3 
    Other services...........................          12.2          58.8      -1.2      608       0.0 
  Government.................................           0.5         254.8       (6)    1,013       (6) 
                                                                                                       
Maricopa, AZ.................................          98.8       1,605.7      -8.8      838       0.4 
  Private industry...........................          98.2       1,387.1      -9.7      826       0.1 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           7.4      -8.5      716     -14.6 
    Construction.............................          10.0          88.8     -32.2      869      -1.1 
    Manufacturing............................           3.4         107.5     -13.9    1,133      -0.4 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          22.4         333.8      -7.6      767      -0.3 
    Information..............................           1.5          27.6      -8.1    1,077      -1.1 
    Financial activities.....................          12.1         133.7      -5.8      997      -0.7 
    Professional and business services.......          22.0         258.8     -12.1      893       3.7 
    Education and health services............          10.3         217.4       0.2      917       1.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.1         164.5      -7.0      398       0.5 
    Other services...........................           7.1          46.6      -6.2      559      -4.9 
  Government.................................           0.7         218.6      -3.0      921       0.7 
                                                                                                       
Dallas, TX...................................          67.7       1,405.1      -5.2    1,012      -1.1 
  Private industry...........................          67.2       1,237.9      -5.8    1,015      -1.7 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.6           8.3      -0.1    2,857     -41.2 
    Construction.............................           4.2          72.0     -15.4      940       2.4 
    Manufacturing............................           3.0         119.0     -11.6    1,150       (6) 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          14.9         283.1      -6.1      941      -1.2 
    Information..............................           1.6          44.9      -6.2    1,436      -0.8 
    Financial activities.....................           8.7         137.2       (6)    1,295       (6) 
    Professional and business services.......          14.7         249.5      -9.3    1,158       0.7 
    Education and health services............           6.8         159.4       (6)      941       1.0 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           5.4         126.4       (6)      454       (6) 
    Other services...........................           6.8          37.5      -3.9      635       1.3 
  Government.................................           0.5         167.2      -0.7      990       (6) 
                                                                                                       
Orange, CA...................................          99.8       1,340.7      -8.6      948      -0.7 
  Private industry...........................          98.4       1,204.3      -9.1      936      -1.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.2           4.0      -6.6      647      -6.8 
    Construction.............................           6.7          70.4     -22.9    1,099       0.6 
    Manufacturing............................           5.2         150.1     -13.4    1,145       1.4 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          16.7         245.4      -9.0      875       0.1 
    Information..............................           1.3          26.7      -8.8    1,350     -13.8 
    Financial activities.....................          10.2         104.1       (6)    1,290      -4.7 
    Professional and business services.......          19.0         234.7     -12.0    1,087       0.5 
    Education and health services............          10.2         148.1      -1.7      931       4.1 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.1         170.8      -4.0      413      -1.0 
    Other services...........................          19.3          47.2      -4.3      525      -3.1 
  Government.................................           1.4         136.4      -4.0    1,058       2.8 
                                                                                                       
San Diego, CA................................          96.5       1,229.1      -6.7      918      -0.4 
  Private industry...........................          95.2       1,014.7      -7.7      890      -1.7 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.7          10.3      -9.5      557      -1.9 
    Construction.............................           6.7          58.6     -22.9    1,032       4.6 
    Manufacturing............................           3.1          93.0     -10.4    1,229       (6) 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          13.9         196.7      -8.3      732       (6) 
    Information..............................           1.2          36.2      -6.7    1,824     -18.8 
    Financial activities.....................           9.0          69.4      -6.5    1,069      -2.4 
    Professional and business services.......          16.2         193.5     -10.1    1,137       0.3 
    Education and health services............           8.3         141.6       2.6      887       1.5 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.9         156.3      -6.3      407      -2.9 
    Other services...........................          26.8          56.7      -3.1      488       0.4 
  Government.................................           1.3         214.5      -1.6    1,052       3.5 
                                                                                                       
King, WA.....................................          79.4       1,122.7      -6.1    1,177       1.4 
  Private industry...........................          78.8         968.6      -7.1    1,191       1.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.4           3.0      -5.7    1,042     -19.7 
    Construction.............................           6.5          53.8     -24.8    1,123       3.7 
    Manufacturing............................           2.4         100.5     -10.2    1,321       4.7 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          15.0         205.6      -6.1      920      -0.1 
    Information..............................           1.8          79.1      -2.2    3,385       0.7 
    Financial activities.....................           6.8          67.7      -8.3    1,307      -4.7 
    Professional and business services.......          14.1         171.8     -11.2    1,257       (6) 
    Education and health services............           6.8         130.0       3.3      896       3.5 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.4         109.6      -5.2      455       (6) 
    Other services...........................          18.6          47.5       0.4      600      -0.3 
  Government.................................           0.5         154.1       0.8    1,093       3.6 
                                                                                                       
Miami-Dade, FL...............................          84.1         935.1      -5.8      839      -0.2 
  Private industry...........................          83.8         789.2      -6.3      803       0.0 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           6.9      -6.4      485      -1.0 
    Construction.............................           5.7          34.2     -22.3      862       1.8 
    Manufacturing............................           2.6          36.1     -16.9      763       2.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          23.1         231.7      -6.9      742      -0.3 
    Information..............................           1.5          17.2      -9.1    1,208      -1.5 
    Financial activities.....................           9.6          61.5      -8.2    1,147      -1.5 
    Professional and business services.......          17.6         119.7      -8.6    1,020       1.3 
    Education and health services............           9.6         147.7       2.6      826       0.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.1         100.1      -1.4      474       0.6 
    Other services...........................           7.5          34.0      -6.7      539       2.1 
  Government.................................           0.4         146.0      -3.1    1,041      -1.6 

(1) Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs.
(2) Data are preliminary.
(3) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(4) Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic
county reclassifications. See Technical Note.
(5) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(6) Data do not meet BLS or State agency disclosure standards.

Table 3. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the largest county by
state, third quarter 2009(2)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                       wage(4)     
                          Establishments,                                          
                           third quarter                                           
        County(3)               2009                    Percent            Percent 
                            (thousands)    September    change,  Average   change, 
                                              2009     September  weekly    third  
                                          (thousands) 2008-09(5)   wage    quarter 
                                                                         2008-09(5)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
United States(6).........       9,066.0     128,088.7      -5.3     $840      -0.1 
                                                                                   
Jefferson, AL............          18.3         333.2      -7.0      861      -0.5 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           8.1         150.4      -1.2      942       2.1 
Maricopa, AZ.............          98.8       1,605.7      -8.8      838       0.4 
Pulaski, AR..............          15.0         241.7      -4.2      789       2.6 
Los Angeles, CA..........         422.5       3,858.5      -6.7      942      -0.8 
Denver, CO...............          25.6         419.3      -7.0    1,040       0.0 
Hartford, CT.............          25.5         484.1      -4.7    1,020       0.8 
New Castle, DE...........          18.0         263.6      -5.8      985       0.6 
Washington, DC...........          34.4         682.6      -1.1    1,450       4.2 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          84.1         935.1      -5.8      839      -0.2 
                                                                                   
Fulton, GA...............          39.4         693.5      -6.7    1,087       0.6 
Honolulu, HI.............          25.1         428.1      -4.0      818       2.4 
Ada, ID..................          14.6         193.3      -8.3      754       1.2 
Cook, IL.................         142.0       2,364.2      -5.6      975      -1.4 
Marion, IN...............          23.9         546.7      -5.1      856       0.2 
Polk, IA.................          14.8         267.5      -3.3      831       0.0 
Johnson, KS..............          20.9         299.4      -5.6      858      -0.9 
Jefferson, KY............          21.7         409.1      -3.8      812       1.2 
East Baton Rouge, LA.....          14.6         259.3      -0.8      815       2.6 
Cumberland, ME...........          12.2         167.8      -3.9      773       0.8 
                                                                                   
Montgomery, MD...........          32.3         443.0      -3.1    1,144       2.1 
Middlesex, MA............          47.3         791.7      -4.3    1,194      -0.3 
Wayne, MI................          31.6         660.0      -8.6      918      -2.5 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.3         794.9      -5.5    1,047      -5.1 
Hinds, MS................           6.3         124.1      -2.3      760       2.4 
St. Louis, MO............          32.2         568.8      -5.7      893       0.2 
Yellowstone, MT..........           5.9          76.6      -2.6      691       0.1 
Douglas, NE..............          15.8         311.0      -2.9      795      -3.2 
Clark, NV................          49.7         808.7     -10.6      804      -1.0 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.1         186.2      -5.3      933       0.8 
                                                                                   
Bergen, NJ...............          34.0         425.1      -4.7    1,035       0.3 
Bernalillo, NM...........          17.6         318.0      -5.4      776       1.7 
New York, NY.............         118.4       2,240.3      -5.3    1,500      -3.4 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          32.2         534.6      -6.5      950      -0.9 
Cass, ND.................           5.9          99.2      -2.0      734       1.4 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          36.9         687.4      -6.1      851      -0.2 
Oklahoma, OK.............          23.9         408.9      -4.4      799       1.7 
Multnomah, OR............          28.2         420.9      -6.6      863       0.6 
Allegheny, PA............          35.1         666.5      -2.9      881      -0.5 
Providence, RI...........          17.8         266.0      -5.6      825       2.5 
                                                                                   
Greenville, SC...........          12.4         221.3      -7.4      727      -0.4 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.5         113.2      -2.6      723       1.1 
Shelby, TN...............          19.6         468.0      -6.3      852      -0.6 
Harris, TX...............          98.2       1,979.6      -3.4    1,044      -0.6 
Salt Lake, UT............          37.5         560.7      -5.0      800       0.5 
Chittenden, VT...........           6.0          91.9      -3.9      851       1.6 
Fairfax, VA..............          34.2         568.2      -2.7    1,321       1.8 
King, WA.................          79.4       1,122.7      -6.1    1,177       1.4 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.0         105.2      -3.2      750       1.5 
Milwaukee, WI............          20.9         470.7      -5.9      834      -0.2 
                                                                                   
Laramie, WY..............           3.2          43.5      -2.0      739       2.8 
                                                                                   
San Juan, PR.............          12.3         266.2      -5.7      594       4.0 
St. Thomas, VI...........           1.8          22.5      -4.4      679       4.8 

(1) Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
(2) Data are preliminary.
(3) Includes areas not officially designated as counties. See Technical Note.
(4) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(5) Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted
for noneconomic county reclassifications. See Technical Note.
(6) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin
Islands.

Table 4. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages by state, 
third quarter 2009(2)
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                Employment        Average weekly 
                                                                      wage(3)    
                          Establishments,                                        
                           third quarter                                         
          State                 2009                    Percent           Percent
                            (thousands)    September    change,  Average  change,
                                              2009     September  weekly   third 
                                          (thousands)   2008-09    wage   quarter
                                                                          2008-09
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
United States(4).........       9,066.0     128,088.7      -5.3     $840     -0.1
                                                                                 
Alabama..................         117.7       1,814.8      -6.3      744      1.8
Alaska...................          21.3         329.3      -0.9      887      1.6
Arizona..................         155.0       2,365.2      -8.0      800      0.3
Arkansas.................          86.1       1,137.0      -3.9      658      1.1
California...............       1,354.4      14,494.0      -6.6      950     -0.9
Colorado.................         176.3       2,188.1      -5.8      876     -0.1
Connecticut..............         112.5       1,611.1      -4.8    1,024     -0.9
Delaware.................          29.0         401.9      -5.0      881      0.5
District of Columbia.....          34.4         682.6      -1.1    1,450      4.2
Florida..................         598.2       7,047.8      -6.5      759      0.4
                                                                                 
Georgia..................         271.5       3,757.9      -6.4      800      0.8
Hawaii...................          39.6         585.1      -4.8      788      1.9
Idaho....................          56.2         624.3      -6.2      646      0.5
Illinois.................         374.8       5,539.8      -5.7      880     -1.2
Indiana..................         159.7       2,715.4      -6.3      714     -0.6
Iowa.....................          94.6       1,444.1      -3.8      695     -0.1
Kansas...................          88.3       1,310.1      -4.3      706     -0.6
Kentucky.................         107.3       1,714.3      -4.4      706      1.9
Louisiana................         125.8       1,832.7      -2.4      761      0.3
Maine....................          50.1         592.0      -3.4      688      0.7
                                                                                 
Maryland.................         162.0       2,458.1      -3.4      941      2.4
Massachusetts............         213.9       3,140.7      -4.0    1,022     -0.2
Michigan.................         255.1       3,785.6      -7.6      809     -1.3
Minnesota................         169.9       2,561.2      -5.1      836     -3.0
Mississippi..............          70.6       1,076.9      -4.7      635      0.8
Missouri.................         174.3       2,610.3      -4.6      744      0.7
Montana..................          42.7         428.7      -3.9      637      1.3
Nebraska.................          60.0         901.1      -2.7      689     -0.7
Nevada...................          75.4       1,126.2     -10.1      805     -0.5
New Hampshire............          49.0         607.6      -4.3      831      1.1
                                                                                 
New Jersey...............         268.7       3,782.9      -4.2      995      0.4
New Mexico...............          54.3         793.7      -5.0      722      1.3
New York.................         587.7       8,325.5      -3.6    1,012     -1.7
North Carolina...........         250.8       3,810.7      -6.3      745      0.7
North Dakota.............          25.9         354.9      -0.6      680      2.3
Ohio.....................         289.4       4,925.5      -6.2      764     -0.5
Oklahoma.................         101.3       1,484.5      -5.1      700      0.1
Oregon...................         131.1       1,613.8      -6.9      768      0.3
Pennsylvania.............         342.3       5,448.2      -4.1      826      0.5
Rhode Island.............          35.4         451.3      -5.2      793      1.9
                                                                                 
South Carolina...........         114.0       1,752.7      -6.5      688      0.9
South Dakota.............          31.0         392.1      -2.3      633      1.6
Tennessee................         141.2       2,561.4      -6.0      745     -0.3
Texas....................         565.4      10,050.2      -3.8      845     -0.5
Utah.....................          85.5       1,162.5      -5.4      719      0.3
Vermont..................          24.7         292.5      -4.0      734      1.8
Virginia.................         232.0       3,530.7      -3.9      897      2.2
Washington...............         228.6       2,862.3      -4.7      916      1.3
West Virginia............          48.5         691.2      -3.6      673      1.7
Wisconsin................         157.4       2,639.7      -5.6      726     -0.4
                                                                                 
Wyoming..................          25.2         278.6      -5.4      756     -3.2
                                                                                 
Puerto Rico..............          52.3         936.9      -5.9      494      3.8
Virgin Islands...........           3.5          42.4      -5.7      724      2.4

(1) Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
(2) Data are preliminary.
(3) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the
Virgin Islands.

Last Modified Date: April 01, 2010