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For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, February 21, 2024 USDL-24-0347 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 2023 From September 2022 to September 2023, employment increased in 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In September 2023, national employment increased to 153.8 million, a 1.5-percent increase over the year, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Hall, GA, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 5.4 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for September 2023, and average weekly wage data are presented for third quarter 2023. Among the 360 largest counties, 169 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the third quarter of 2023, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,334, a 0.1-percent increase over the year. Clayton, GA, had the largest third quarter over-the-year wage gain at 7.7 percent. (See table 1.) Large County Employment in September 2023 Hall, GA, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Within Hall, the largest employment increase occurred in manufacturing, which rose by 1,954 (+8.6 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent). Within Elkhart, the largest employment decrease occurred in manufacturing, which fell by 10,144 (-13.8 percent). Large County Average Weekly Wage in Third Quarter 2023 Clayton, GA, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages (+7.7 percent). Within Clayton, an average weekly wage gain of $141 (+10.0 percent) in trade, transportation, and utilities made the largest contribution to the county's increase in average weekly wages. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages (-6.0 percent). Within Elkhart, an average weekly wage loss of $91 (-7.6 percent) in manufacturing made the largest contribution to the county's decrease in average weekly wages. Ten Largest Counties Nine of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage increases in employment. In September 2023, Harris, TX, had the largest over-the-year employment percentage gain (+2.7 percent). Within Harris, education and health services had the largest employment increase and rose by 16,206 (+5.1 percent). (See table 2.) Four of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage increases in average weekly wages. In the third quarter of 2023, King, WA, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage gain in average weekly wages (+1.8 percent). Within King, professional and business services had the largest impact, with an average weekly wage increase of $140 (+5.1 percent). For More Information The tables included in this release contain data for the nation and for the 360 U.S. counties with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022. September 2023 employment and third quarter 2023 average weekly wages for all states are provided in table 3 of this release. Over-the-year changes of employment and wages presented in this news release are adjusted and may differ from unadjusted data used in BLS data tools and interactive charts. More information is available in the QCEW Technical Note at www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm. QCEW reporting rates tables are available at www.bls.gov/cew/reporting-rates/. The most current news release on quarterly measures of gross job flows is available from QCEW Business Employment Dynamics at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewbd.pdf. Several BLS regional offices issue QCEW news releases targeted to local data users. Links to these releases are available at www.bls.gov/cew/regional-resources.htm. QCEW data are available in the Census Business Builder suite of web tools assisting business owners and regional analysts in data-driven decision making at www.census.gov/data/data-tools/cbb.html. The QCEW news release schedule is available at www.bls.gov/cew/release-calendar.htm. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. ____________ The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages news release for fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).