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Economic News Release
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QCEW QCEW Program Links

County Employment and Wages News Release

Technical information:(202) 691-6567    USDL 09-0362 
             http://www.bls.gov/cew/ 
                                        For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT 
Media contact:              691-5902    Wednesday, April 8, 2009 

          COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES:  THIRD QUARTER 2008 

  From September 2007 to September 2008, employment declined in more 
than half of the largest U.S. counties, according to preliminary data 
released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. 
Department of Labor. Elkhart County, Ind., located about 100 miles 
east of Chicago, posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss 
of 10.8 percent over the year, compared with a national job decrease 
of 0.8 percent. Manufacturing sustained the largest employment losses 
in Elkhart. Yakima, Wash., in the south-central part of the State, 
experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in 
employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a gain of 3.2 
percent, led by growth in agriculture.  

  Rutherford County, Tenn., within the metropolitan Nashville area, 
had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the 
third quarter of 2008, with an increase of 17.3 percent coming 
largely from manufacturing. The U.S. average weekly wage rose by 2.8 
percent over the same time span. 
   
  Of the 334 largest counties in the United States (as measured by 
2007 annual average employment) 139 had over-the-year percentage 
change in employment below the national average (-0.8 percent) in 
September 2008; 178 large counties experienced changes above the 
national average. The percent change in average weekly wages was 
higher than the national average (2.8 percent) in 155 of the largest 
U.S. counties but was below the national average in 168 counties. 

Table A.  Top 10 large counties ranked by September 2008 employment, September 2007-08 employment 
decrease, and September 2007-08 percent decrease in employment  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Employment in large counties
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     September 2008 employment    |      Decrease in employment,     |  Percent decrease in employment, 
            (thousands)           |         September 2007-08        |         September 2007-08
                                  |            (thousands)           |                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 United States           135,173.8| United States            -1,056.1| United States                -0.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 Los Angeles, Calif.       4,141.1| Maricopa, Ariz.             -67.1| Elkhart, Ind.               -10.8
 Cook, Ill.                2,504.2| Los Angeles, Calif.         -61.5| Lee, Fla.                    -8.1
 New York, N.Y.            2,363.8| Orange, Calif.              -42.2| Collier, Fla.                -7.4
 Harris, Texas             2,047.2| Riverside, Calif.           -35.5| Sarasota, Fla.               -7.1
 Maricopa, Ariz.           1,761.0| Miami-Dade, Fla.            -33.1| Marion, Fla.                 -6.4
 Dallas, Texas             1,489.1| Cook, Ill.                  -33.0| Volusia, Fla.                -5.9
 Orange, Calif.            1,469.5| Wayne, Mich.                -31.2| Seminole, Fla.               -5.8
 San Diego, Calif.         1,318.0| Hillsborough, Fla.          -31.1| Macomb, Mich.                -5.8
 King, Wash.               1,198.7| Broward, Fla.               -31.0| Riverside, Calif.            -5.6
 Miami-Dade, Fla.            993.1| San Bernardino, Calif.      -25.1| Washoe, Nev.                 -5.4
                                  | Palm Beach, Fla.            -25.1|                                  
                                  |                                  |                                  
                                  |                                  |                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  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 9.2 million employer reports cover 135.2 million full- and 
part-time workers.  
 
Large County Employment 

  In September 2008, national employment, as measured by the QCEW 
program, was 135.2 million, down by 0.8 percent from September 2007. 
The 334 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 
71.2 percent of total U.S. employment and 76.8 percent of total 
wages. These 334 counties had a net job decline of 891,159 over the 
year, accounting for 84.4 percent of the overall U.S. employment 
decrease.  

  Employment declined in 207 counties from September 2007 to 
September 2008. The largest percentage decline in employment was in 
Elkhart, Ind. (-10.8 percent). Lee, Fla., had the next largest 
percentage decline (-8.1 percent), followed by the counties of 
Collier, Fla. (-7.4 percent), Sarasota, Fla. (-7.1 percent), and 
Marion, Fla.    (-6.4 percent). The largest decline in employment 
levels occurred in Maricopa, Ariz. (-67,100), followed by the 
counties of Los Angeles, Calif. (-61,500), Orange, Calif. (-42,200), 
Riverside, Calif. (-35,500), and Miami-Dade, Fla. (-33,100). (See 
table A.) Combined employment losses in these five counties over the 
year totaled 239,400, or 23 percent of the employment decline for the 
U.S. as a whole. 

  Employment rose in 109 of the large counties from September 2007 to 
September 2008. Yakima County, Wash., had the largest over-the-year 
percentage increase in employment (3.2 percent). Potter, Texas, had 
the next largest increase, 3.1 percent, followed by the counties of 
Montgomery, Texas (3.0 percent), Douglas, Colo. (2.9 percent), and 
Cass, N.D. (2.6 percent). The largest gains in the level of 
employment from September 2007 to September 2008 were recorded in the 
counties of Harris, Texas (26,500), King, Wash. (17,100), New York, 
N.Y. (14,800), Travis, Texas (9,400), and Washington, D.C. (9,300). 

Table B.  Top 10 large counties ranked by third quarter 2008 average weekly wages, third quarter 2007-08 
growth in average weekly wages, and third quarter 2007-08 percent growth in average weekly wages 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Average weekly wage in large counties
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Average weekly wage,      |     Growth in average weekly     |     Percent growth in average 
         third quarter 2008       |    wage, third quarter 2007-08   |         weekly wage, third
                                  |                                  |          quarter 2007-08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 United States                $841| United States                 $23| United States                 2.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  |                                  |                                  
 New York, N.Y.             $1,552| Rutherford, Tenn.            $124| Rutherford, Tenn.            17.3
 Santa Clara, Calif.         1,530| Suffolk, N.Y.                  77| Yolo, Calif.                  9.7
 Washington, D.C.            1,391| Yolo, Calif.                   73| Madison, Ill.                 9.2
 San Mateo, Calif.           1,374| San Francisco, Calif.          65| Suffolk, N.Y.                 8.6
 San Francisco, Calif.       1,350| Lake, Ill.                     63| Calcasieu, La.                7.8
 Arlington, Va.              1,348| Solano, Calif.                 61| Solano, Calif.                7.7
 Suffolk, Mass.              1,321| Madison, Ill.                  61| Santa Cruz, Calif.            7.5
 Fairfield, Conn.            1,310| Wyandotte, Kan.                58| Wyandotte, Kan.               7.5
 Fairfax, Va.                1,295| Santa Cruz, Calif.             56| Polk, Fla.                    7.0
 Somerset, N.J.              1,233| Hennepin, Minn.                56| Benton, Ark.                  6.7
                                  |                                  | Lafayette, La.                6.7
                                  |                                  |                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Large County Average Weekly Wages 

  The national average weekly wage in the third quarter of 2008 was 
$841. Average weekly wages were higher than the national average in 
108 of the largest 334 U.S. counties. New York, N.Y., held the top 
position among the highest-paid large counties with an average weekly 
wage of $1,552. Santa Clara, Calif., was second with an average 
weekly wage of $1,530, followed by Washington, D.C. ($1,391), San 
Mateo, Calif. ($1,374), and San Francisco, Calif. ($1,350). (See 
table B.) Over the year, the national average weekly wage rose by 2.8 
percent. Among the largest counties, Rutherford, Tenn., led the 
nation in growth in average weekly wages with an increase of 17.3 
percent from the third quarter of 2007. Yolo, Calif., was second with 
growth of 9.7 percent, followed by the counties of Madison, Ill. (9.2 
percent), Suffolk, N.Y. (8.6 percent), and Calcasieu, La. (7.8 
percent).  

  Average weekly wages are affected by the number of high-paying and 
low-paying jobs in an industry. The 2.8 percent over-the-year gain in 
average weekly wages for the nation is partially due to large 
employment declines in the construction and manufacturing industries, 
which posted the largest over-the-year percent declines in September 
employment. (See table 2.) Average weekly wages for construction 
workers increased 5.1 percent as employment fell by more than 6 
percent. Construction and manufacturing lost 518,400 and 499,200 
jobs, respectively, over the year in September. Employment declines 
exceeded 3 percent in manufacturing as average weekly wages for these 
workers grew by 1.9 percent. (See Technical Note.) 

  There were 226 counties with an average weekly wage below the 
national average in the third quarter of 2008. The lowest average 
weekly wage was reported in Horry, S.C. ($537), followed by the 
counties of Cameron, Texas ($538), Hidalgo, Texas ($549), Webb, Texas 
($559), and Yakima, Wash. ($580). (See table 1.) Twenty-one large 
counties experienced over-the-year declines in average weekly wages. 
Clayton, Ga., had the largest decrease (-14.6 percent), followed by 
the counties of Santa Clara, Calif. and Duval, Fla. (-3.4 percent 
each), Gwinnett, Ga. (-3.1 percent), and Rock Island, Ill. (-2.6 
percent). 

Ten Largest U.S. Counties 

  Six of the 10 largest counties (based on 2007 annual average 
employment levels) experienced over-the-year percent declines in 
employment in September 2008. Maricopa, Ariz., experienced the 
largest decline in employment among the 10 largest counties with a 
3.7 percent decrease. Within Maricopa, eight industry groups 
experienced employment declines, with construction experiencing the 
largest decline, -21.8 percent. Miami-Dade, Fla., had the next 
largest decline in employment, -3.2 percent, followed by Orange, 
Calif. (-2.8 percent). (See table 2.) King, Wash., experienced the 
largest percent gain in employment (1.4 percent) among the 10 largest 
counties. Within King County, the largest gains in employment were in 
information (5.9 percent) and education and health services (5.2 
percent). Harris, Texas, had the next largest increase in employment, 
1.3 percent, followed by New York, N.Y. (0.6 percent).  

  Each of the 10 largest U.S. counties saw an over-the-year increase 
in average weekly wages. San Diego, Calif., had the fastest growth in 
wages among the 10 largest counties, with a gain of 3.8 percent. 
Within San Diego County, average weekly wages increased the most in 
the information industry (30.4 percent). Los Angeles, Calif., was 
second in wage growth with a gain of 3.1 percent, followed by Orange, 
Calif., and Harris, Texas (3.0 percent each). The smallest wage gain 
occurred in New York, N.Y. (0.5 percent), followed by Maricopa, Ariz. 
(1.8 percent), and Miami-Dade, Fla. (2.2 percent).   

Largest County by State 

  Table 3 shows September 2008 employment and the 2008 third quarter 
average weekly wage in the largest county in each state, which is 
based on 2007 annual average employment levels. (This table includes 
one county--Laramie, Wyo.--that had an employment level below 75,000
in 2007.) The employment levels in the counties in table 3 in 
September 2008 ranged from approximately 4.14 million in Los Angeles 
County, Calif., to 44,200 in Laramie County, Wyo. The highest average 
weekly wage of these counties was in New York, N.Y. ($1,552), while 
the lowest average weekly wage was in Yellowstone, Mont. ($688). 

For More Information 

  The tables included in this release contain data for the nation and 
for the 334 counties with annual average employment levels of 75,000 
or more in 2007. September 2008 employment and 2008 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. Final data for all states, 
metropolitan statistical areas, counties, and the nation through the 
fourth quarter of 2007 are available on the BLS Web site at 
http://www.bls.gov/cew/. Preliminary data for first and second 
quarter 2008 also are available on the site. Updated data for first 
and second quarter 2008 and preliminary data for third quarter 2008 
will be available later in April online. 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 2008 is 
scheduled to be released on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.







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 re-
lease are based on the 2007 North American Industry Classification System. Data for 
2008 are preliminary and subject to revision. 
 
 For purposes of this release, large counties are defined as having employment lev-
els of 75,000 or greater. In addition, data for San Juan, Puerto Rico, are provided, 
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 preliminary annual 
average of employment for the previous year. The 335 counties presented in this re-
lease were derived using 2007 preliminary annual averages of employment. For 2008 
data, six counties have been added to the publication tables: Shelby, Ala., Boone, 
Ky., St. Tammany, La., Yellowstone, Mont., Warren, Ohio, and Potter, Texas. These 
counties will be included in all 2008 quarterly releases. 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 7.1    |
            |  ments              |  million private-sec-|
            |                     |  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 submitted 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 multi-
ple 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. The employment and wage data included in this re-
lease are derived from microdata summaries of 9.1 million employer reports of em-
ployment and wages submitted by states to the BLS. These reports are based on place 
of employment rather than place of residence. 
 
 UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to state.  In 
2007, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 135.4 million jobs. The estimated 
130.3 million workers in these jobs (after adjustment for multiple jobholders) rep-
resented 96.2 percent of civilian wage and salary employment. Covered workers re-
ceived $6.018 trillion in pay, representing 94.6 percent of the wage and salary com-
ponent of personal income and 43.6 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 release. 
  
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 em-
ployees of covered firms are reported, including production and sales workers, cor-
poration officials, executives, supervisory personnel, and clerical workers.  Work-
ers 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 aver-
ages 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 gra-
tuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred compensa-
tion plans such as 401(k) plans and stock options. Over-the-year comparisons of av-
erage weekly wages may reflect fluctuations in average monthly employment and/or to-
tal 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 weekly 
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 peri-
ods 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 occur 
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 com-
parisons can be pronounced in federal government due to the uniform nature of fed-
eral payroll processing. This pattern may exist in private sector pay; however, be-
cause there are more pay period types (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly) it is 
less pronounced. The effect is most visible in counties with large concentrations of 
federal employment. 
 
 In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, states verify with em-
ployers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership classifica-
tion of all establishments on a 4-year cycle. Changes in establishment classifica-
tion 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 in-
dividual 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 ad-
justed version of the final 2007 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 unad-
justed 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 release. 
 
 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. Included 
in these adjustments are administrative changes involving the classification of es-
tablishments that were previously reported in the unknown or statewide county or un-
known industry categories. Beginning with the first quarter of 2008, adjusted data 
will also 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. Com-
parisons may not be valid for any time period other than the one featured in a re-
lease 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 com-
mon 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 
detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all 
states. The 2007 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 2008 version of this news release. Tables and additional con-
tent from the 2007 Employment and Wages Annual Bulletin are now available online at 
http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewbultn07.htm. These tables present final 2007 annual aver-
ages.  The tables will also be included on the CD which accompanies the hardcopy 
version of the Annual Bulletin.  Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 2007 is ex-
pected to be available for sale as a chartbook by the end of the second quarter of 
2009 from the United States Government Printing Office, Superintendent 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 2008(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                     Employment               Average weekly wage(4)   
                                                                                                       
                          Establishments,                                                              
        County(3)          third quarter                Percent   Ranking            Percent   Ranking 
                                2008       September    change,      by    Average   change,      by   
                            (thousands)       2008     September  percent   weekly    third    percent 
                                          (thousands) 2007-08(5)   change    wage    quarter    change 
                                                                                   2007-08(5)          
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
United States(6).........       9,150.8     135,173.8      -0.8         -     $841       2.8         - 
                                                                                                       
Jefferson, AL............          19.0         357.9      -1.6       233      863       3.1       123 
Madison, AL..............           9.0         183.1       2.2        13      913       2.0       221 
Mobile, AL...............          10.1         175.4       0.5        69      715       2.9       148 
Montgomery, AL...........           6.7         138.5       0.0       110      725       4.8        33 
Shelby, AL...............           5.0          75.7      -0.6       162      806       0.4       297 
Tuscaloosa, AL...........           4.5          87.2       0.1       101      730       4.4        43 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           8.3         152.0       2.0        15      922       3.1       123 
Maricopa, AZ.............         103.0       1,761.0      -3.7       300      836       1.8       234 
Pima, AZ.................          21.3         370.5      -1.5       226      747       2.2       201 
Benton, AR...............           5.6          95.9      -0.8       179      760       6.7        10 
                                                                                                       
Pulaski, AR..............          15.1         252.2       0.3        84      765       2.0       221 
Washington, AR...........           5.8          92.1      -1.2       205      679       2.3       192 
Alameda, CA..............          54.3         684.0      -1.5       226    1,115       3.6        76 
Butte, CA................           8.0          77.0      -1.8       250      660       3.3       103 
Contra Costa, CA.........          30.1         339.9      -2.0       258    1,034       3.1       123 
Fresno, CA...............          30.5         372.4      -0.4       145      658       2.2       201 
Kern, CA.................          18.3         297.4       0.7        59      737       2.9       148 
Los Angeles, CA..........         428.8       4,141.1      -1.5       226      951       3.1       123 
Marin, CA................          12.1         109.5       0.3        84    1,029       0.7       287 
Monterey, CA.............          12.9         182.8      -0.1       121      747       1.5       255 
                                                                                                       
Orange, CA...............         102.5       1,469.5      -2.8       283      955       3.0       139 
Placer, CA...............          11.0         135.0      -3.8       303      815      -0.1       308 
Riverside, CA............          47.1         598.5      -5.6       319      716       2.1       211 
Sacramento, CA...........          54.4         623.6      -2.5       272      952       5.1        24 
San Bernardino, CA.......          49.1         642.8      -3.8       303      740       2.2       201 
San Diego, CA............          99.6       1,318.0      -1.2       205      921       3.8        66 
San Francisco, CA........          52.3         575.4       0.8        50    1,350       5.1        24 
San Joaquin, CA..........          18.0         224.5      -3.1       290      744       4.1        52 
San Luis Obispo, CA......           9.9         105.3      -2.0       258      714       3.9        62 
San Mateo, CA............          24.2         343.8       0.1       101    1,374       3.5        82 
                                                                                                       
Santa Barbara, CA........          14.4         189.8       0.0       110      788       1.2       264 
Santa Clara, CA..........          60.7         910.5       0.5        69    1,530      -3.4       326 
Santa Cruz, CA...........           9.1         102.1      -1.7       245      798       7.5         7 
Solano, CA...............          10.2         126.4      -2.5       272      853       7.7         6 
Sonoma, CA...............          18.9         193.0      -2.4       271      828       2.1       211 
Stanislaus, CA...........          14.9         177.1      -1.6       233      723       4.0        57 
Tulare, CA...............           9.6         154.1       0.8        50      606       3.4        94 
Ventura, CA..............          23.7         314.3      -1.6       233      858       2.4       183 
Yolo, CA.................           5.9         104.0      -0.6       162      829       9.7         2 
Adams, CO................           9.4         155.8       1.0        39      792       3.1       123 
                                                                                                       
Arapahoe, CO.............          19.6         282.9      -0.3       141    1,002       4.6        40 
Boulder, CO..............          13.1         162.3       0.9        45    1,020       3.1       123 
Denver, CO...............          26.0         453.3       0.5        69    1,031       3.6        76 
Douglas, CO..............           9.7          94.2       2.9         4      864       3.1       123 
El Paso, CO..............          17.6         245.3      -1.6       233      780       2.1       211 
Jefferson, CO............          18.9         212.4       0.2        97      883       5.2        22 
Larimer, CO..............          10.5         133.6       0.1       101      771       2.4       183 
Weld, CO.................           6.1          84.4       0.0       110      731       0.6       290 
Fairfield, CT............          33.1         418.8      -0.5       153    1,310       0.5       293 
Hartford, CT.............          25.6         506.7       0.3        84    1,012       0.9       275 
                                                                                                       
New Haven, CT............          22.7         364.0      -1.1       200      909       2.9       148 
New London, CT...........           7.0         131.8       0.4        76      864       1.1       266 
New Castle, DE...........          18.5         278.0      -1.5       226      981       2.6       174 
Washington, DC...........          33.8         688.2       1.4        24    1,391       1.0       270 
Alachua, FL..............           6.8         123.2      -0.6       162      723       2.0       221 
Brevard, FL..............          15.0         196.9      -4.2       308      793       3.5        82 
Broward, FL..............          65.9         728.6      -4.1       307      792       2.2       201 
Collier, FL..............          12.5         116.5      -7.4       325      749       (7)         - 
Duval, FL................          27.6         456.0      -3.4       295      797      -3.4       326 
Escambia, FL.............           8.2         125.0      -4.9       315      667       2.9       148 
                                                                                                       
Hillsborough, FL.........          38.1         604.0      -4.9       315      807       3.5        82 
Lake, FL.................           7.4          83.6      -4.5       312      606       1.7       244 
Lee, FL..................          20.2         201.1      -8.1       326      706       1.0       270 
Leon, FL.................           8.3         142.3      -2.6       277      750       4.2        46 
Manatee, FL..............           9.4         109.6      -1.8       250      663       0.8       281 
Marion, FL...............           8.7          98.9      -6.4       323      606       2.5       176 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          87.8         993.1      -3.2       291      842       2.2       201 
Okaloosa, FL.............           6.2          78.4      -4.3       310      688       1.8       234 
Orange, FL...............          36.4         680.9      -2.5       272      764       1.3       260 
Palm Beach, FL...........          51.5         519.2      -4.6       313      811       0.9       275 
                                                                                                       
Pasco, FL................          10.3          99.4      -2.8       283      595       1.9       230 
Pinellas, FL.............          31.9         414.8      -4.4       311      737       3.4        94 
Polk, FL.................          12.9         197.1      -3.3       293      699       7.0         9 
Sarasota, FL.............          15.4         143.5      -7.1       324      709       1.0       270 
Seminole, FL.............          14.9         171.0      -5.8       320      712       0.8       281 
Volusia, FL..............          14.2         159.4      -5.9       322      615       2.8       156 
Bibb, GA.................           4.7          84.8       0.8        50      669       2.0       221 
Chatham, GA..............           7.6         134.6      -2.6       277      728       3.4        94 
Clayton, GA..............           4.4         111.8      -2.6       277      787     -14.6       328 
Cobb, GA.................          20.7         310.3      -2.8       283      906       3.2       110 
                                                                                                       
De Kalb, GA..............          16.7         293.9      -1.9       255      888       1.6       250 
Fulton, GA...............          39.1         741.7      -1.0       192    1,078       1.9       230 
Gwinnett, GA.............          23.4         315.1      -3.6       298      842      -3.1       325 
Muscogee, GA.............           4.8          94.5      -2.7       282      676      -2.0       321 
Richmond, GA.............           4.8         101.1       0.2        97      733       3.2       110 
Honolulu, HI.............          24.7         444.6      -1.6       233      800       1.8       234 
Ada, ID..................          15.0         210.4      -1.5       226      746      -0.5       310 
Champaign, IL............           4.1          93.2       0.7        59      728       3.3       103 
Cook, IL.................         140.4       2,504.2      -1.3       212      988       2.8       156 
Du Page, IL..............          36.0         590.9      -1.9       255      990       0.9       275 
                                                                                                       
Kane, IL.................          12.8         208.2      -2.9       286      765       3.1       123 
Lake, IL.................          21.1         335.8      -1.2       205    1,037       6.5        13 
McHenry, IL..............           8.5         103.6      -1.3       212      729       1.8       234 
McLean, IL...............           3.7          86.9       0.6        64      818       4.3        44 
Madison, IL..............           6.0          96.6       0.3        84      723       9.2         3 
Peoria, IL...............           4.8         105.7       1.0        39      806       4.0        57 
Rock Island, IL..........           3.5          79.9       0.4        76      823      -2.6       324 
St. Clair, IL............           5.5          98.4       1.2        30      694       2.8       156 
Sangamon, IL.............           5.2         129.4      -0.5       153      850       3.8        66 
Will, IL.................          13.8         199.0       1.0        39      751       3.2       110 
                                                                                                       
Winnebago, IL............           7.0         136.1      -1.4       221      739       3.5        82 
Allen, IN................           9.1         183.1      -1.0       192      702       1.6       250 
Elkhart, IN..............           5.0         112.3     -10.8       327      667      -2.2       322 
Hamilton, IN.............           7.7         113.6       1.0        39      809       0.5       293 
Lake, IN.................          10.3         195.9       0.1       101      771       5.0        28 
Marion, IN...............          24.2         580.5      -0.7       174      852       2.7       161 
St. Joseph, IN...........           6.1         123.3      -2.0       258      715       5.0        28 
Tippecanoe, IN...........           3.3          77.3      -0.3       141      725       2.7       161 
Vanderburgh, IN..........           4.8         108.2       0.6        64      702       3.8        66 
Linn, IA.................           6.3         126.4       1.9        17      826       4.7        36 
                                                                                                       
Polk, IA.................          14.9         276.3       0.6        64      831       3.5        82 
Scott, IA................           5.3          90.1       0.9        45      697       2.3       192 
Johnson, KS..............          20.6         318.1       0.1       101      867       4.0        57 
Sedgwick, KS.............          12.2         258.0      -0.2       132      763       3.8        66 
Shawnee, KS..............           4.8          96.8       1.1        37      710       3.5        82 
Wyandotte, KS............           3.2          81.7      -0.2       132      830       7.5         7 
Boone, KY................           3.5          75.2       1.7        20      724      -1.4       316 
Fayette, KY..............           9.1         176.2       (7)         -      754       2.7       161 
Jefferson, KY............          22.3         426.4      -2.3       269      799       1.1       266 
Caddo, LA................           7.4         125.3      -0.7       174      717       5.8        15 
                                                                                                       
Calcasieu, LA............           4.9          85.8      -0.5       153      750       7.8         5 
East Baton Rouge, LA.....          14.4         261.4      -0.1       121      790       6.6        12 
Jefferson, LA............          14.0         195.0      -1.1       200      777       3.3       103 
Lafayette, LA............           8.8         135.0      -0.2       132      826       6.7        10 
Orleans, LA..............          10.6         170.7       (7)         -      901       1.5       255 
St. Tammany, LA..........           7.2          74.0      -0.6       162      699       4.2        46 
Cumberland, ME...........          12.0         174.0      -0.1       121      768       3.4        94 
Anne Arundel, MD.........          14.5         234.0      -0.4       145      891       1.8       234 
Baltimore, MD............          21.5         373.0      -1.3       212      858       3.1       123 
Frederick, MD............           6.0          94.3      -1.7       245      819       2.4       183 
                                                                                                       
Harford, MD..............           5.6          83.5       (7)         -      785       (7)         - 
Howard, MD...............           8.7         148.4       (7)         -      979       3.4        94 
Montgomery, MD...........          32.8         459.0      -0.4       145    1,122       2.9       148 
Prince Georges, MD.......          15.7         312.7      -1.4       221      933       3.6        76 
Baltimore City, MD.......          13.9         340.8      -1.0       192      988       5.2        22 
Barnstable, MA...........           9.2          96.9      -1.6       233      709       3.1       123 
Bristol, MA..............          15.4         216.6      -2.0       258      751       3.9        62 
Essex, MA................          20.9         301.4      -0.2       132      888       0.9       275 
Hampden, MA..............          14.4         200.2      -0.4       145      785       3.2       110 
Middlesex, MA............          47.6         825.1       0.8        50    1,200       1.8       234 
                                                                                                       
Norfolk, MA..............          23.7         327.0       0.4        76      971       0.7       287 
Plymouth, MA.............          13.7         177.3      -1.3       212      786       3.4        94 
Suffolk, MA..............          21.7         591.8       0.4        76    1,321       2.2       201 
Worcester, MA............          20.6         320.8      -0.6       162      859       3.4        94 
Genesee, MI..............           7.9         135.5      -5.1       317      738       0.3       302 
Ingham, MI...............           6.8         159.5      -2.1       264      806       3.2       110 
Kalamazoo, MI............           5.6         113.4      -2.3       269      784       6.4        14 
Kent, MI.................          14.3         329.8      -3.5       296      757       3.0       139 
Macomb, MI...............          17.7         298.8      -5.8       320      853      -2.4       323 
Oakland, MI..............          39.2         671.0      -3.5       296      966       0.9       275 
                                                                                                       
Ottawa, MI...............           5.7         109.8      -2.6       277      730       3.0       139 
Saginaw, MI..............           4.3          83.7      -3.7       300      703       0.1       306 
Washtenaw, MI............           8.1         187.3      -2.5       272      944      -0.9       313 
Wayne, MI................          32.1         717.9      -4.2       308      942       1.4       259 
Anoka, MN................           7.8         114.8      -1.6       233      769       0.3       302 
Dakota, MN...............          10.6         175.1      -1.2       205      801       3.4        94 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.2         840.7      -0.8       179    1,102       5.4        20 
Olmsted, MN..............           3.5          90.6      -1.0       192      949       5.1        24 
Ramsey, MN...............          15.2         335.2      -0.2       132      933       3.7        73 
St. Louis, MN............           5.9          98.3       0.4        76      696       3.9        62 
                                                                                                       
Stearns, MN..............           4.5          83.0       0.3        84      679       3.2       110 
Harrison, MS.............           4.6          86.1      -2.0       258      664       3.4        94 
Hinds, MS................           6.4         126.6      -0.6       162      745       4.3        44 
Boone, MO................           4.6          83.5       0.0       110      660       3.6        76 
Clay, MO.................           5.1          90.2      -1.3       212      765      -1.7       319 
Greene, MO...............           8.2         156.2      -1.6       233      653       2.5       176 
Jackson, MO..............          18.7         370.0      -0.1       121      851       3.0       139 
St. Charles, MO..........           8.2         123.2      -2.1       264      695       0.4       297 
St. Louis, MO............          32.9         605.6      -1.0       192      890       1.8       234 
St. Louis City, MO.......           8.5         237.9       1.6        21      937       5.5        18 
                                                                                                       
Yellowstone, MT..........           5.8          78.5       0.7        59      688       2.4       183 
Douglas, NE..............          16.0         321.4       0.9        45      820       4.9        31 
Lancaster, NE............           8.1         158.2       0.3        84      687       3.2       110 
Clark, NV................          50.9         903.7      -2.0       258      812       2.0       221 
Washoe, NV...............          14.6         208.5      -5.4       318      796       2.3       192 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.4         196.5      -0.6       162      924       2.7       161 
Rockingham, NH...........          11.0         138.6      -1.8       250      796       1.7       244 
Atlantic, NJ.............           7.1         147.0       0.0       110      740       2.2       201 
Bergen, NJ...............          35.0         445.7      -1.3       212    1,031       2.3       192 
Burlington, NJ...........          11.6         198.9      -2.6       277      890       1.8       234 
                                                                                                       
Camden, NJ...............          13.3         207.7      -0.5       153      858       2.8       156 
Essex, NJ................          21.7         357.2      -0.5       153    1,038       1.8       234 
Gloucester, NJ...........           6.4         103.9       0.4        76      763       2.7       161 
Hudson, NJ...............          14.2         236.2      -0.8       179    1,162       4.1        52 
Mercer, NJ...............          11.4         229.5       0.3        84    1,063       3.2       110 
Middlesex, NJ............          22.3         399.0      -2.1       264    1,033       4.1        52 
Monmouth, NJ.............          21.1         257.2      -0.6       162      888       1.3       260 
Morris, NJ...............          18.4         285.6      -0.7       174    1,178       2.7       161 
Ocean, NJ................          12.7         152.8      -0.9       189      689       1.6       250 
Passaic, NJ..............          12.9         174.5      -1.4       221      873       2.5       176 
                                                                                                       
Somerset, NJ.............          10.4         172.9      -0.8       179    1,233       2.6       174 
Union, NJ................          15.3         232.1      -1.1       200    1,057       0.4       297 
Bernalillo, NM...........          17.6         335.6       0.2        97      763       3.8        66 
Albany, NY...............          10.0         227.7       0.0       110      878       5.3        21 
Bronx, NY................          16.0         227.5       2.3         9      836       (7)         - 
Broome, NY...............           4.5          95.3      -0.6       162      696       4.8        33 
Dutchess, NY.............           8.4         115.4      -1.3       212      860       1.7       244 
Erie, NY.................          23.7         463.8       1.2        30      736       3.1       123 
Kings, NY................          46.4         478.2       1.4        24      735       2.1       211 
Monroe, NY...............          18.1         381.1       0.3        84      817       1.5       255 
                                                                                                       
Nassau, NY...............          52.7         601.7      -0.5       153      915       0.2       305 
New York, NY.............         118.9       2,363.8       0.6        64    1,552       0.5       293 
Oneida, NY...............           5.3         109.7      -0.2       132      671       3.2       110 
Onondaga, NY.............          12.8         254.3      -0.3       141      774       2.2       201 
Orange, NY...............          10.0         132.0      -0.2       132      711       3.3       103 
Queens, NY...............          43.7         506.9       1.2        30      836       3.0       139 
Richmond, NY.............           8.8          93.3       0.8        50      769       2.5       176 
Rockland, NY.............           9.9         116.0      -0.1       121      918       5.8        15 
Saratoga, NY.............           5.4          76.2      -0.8       179      708       1.7       244 
Suffolk, NY..............          50.7         626.3      -0.4       145      969       8.6         4 
                                                                                                       
Westchester, NY..........          36.6         420.7      -0.1       121    1,086       1.6       250 
Buncombe, NC.............           8.2         115.8      -1.4       221      666       3.1       123 
Catawba, NC..............           4.7          85.2      -3.6       298      637       0.5       293 
Cumberland, NC...........           6.3         120.8       2.3         9      654       0.3       302 
Durham, NC...............           7.1         184.3      -0.8       179    1,115       0.9       275 
Forsyth, NC..............           9.3         184.1      -1.0       192      764       1.2       264 
Guilford, NC.............          14.8         278.9      -1.1       200      758       5.0        28 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          33.3         570.0       0.0       110      956       3.5        82 
New Hanover, NC..........           7.5         103.3      -3.3       293      696       3.1       123 
Wake, NC.................          28.9         453.6       0.7        59      836       2.7       161 
                                                                                                       
Cass, ND.................           5.9         101.1       2.6         5      723       5.1        24 
Butler, OH...............           7.5         147.3      -1.2       205      743      -1.6       317 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          38.1         732.3      -1.7       245      853       2.4       183 
Franklin, OH.............          30.3         678.7      -0.8       179      851       2.3       192 
Hamilton, OH.............          24.3         515.4      -0.6       162      933       4.9        31 
Lake, OH.................           6.8         100.5      -0.7       174      685       2.7       161 
Lorain, OH...............           6.3          99.1      -1.4       221      710       1.3       260 
Lucas, OH................          10.8         212.2      -3.8       303      737       0.4       297 
Mahoning, OH.............           6.5         103.0      -1.9       255      616       3.5        82 
Montgomery, OH...........          13.0         261.1      -3.0       288      787       4.5        42 
                                                                                                       
Stark, OH................           9.1         160.9      -1.6       233      658       2.3       192 
Summit, OH...............          15.1         273.9      -0.4       145      756       2.3       192 
Trumbull, OH.............           4.7          76.3      -1.8       250      713       2.9       148 
Warren, OH...............           4.3          76.9      -1.7       245      719       3.3       103 
Oklahoma, OK.............          24.0         427.1       1.2        30      784       4.7        36 
Tulsa, OK................          19.4         351.8       1.0        39      767       3.0       139 
Clackamas, OR............          12.8         151.7       0.3        84      772       0.8       281 
Jackson, OR..............           6.7          83.7      -2.9       286      634       1.1       266 
Lane, OR.................          11.0         147.1      -3.0       288      684       3.5        82 
Marion, OR...............           9.5         145.1       0.6        64      673       2.0       221 
                                                                                                       
Multnomah, OR............          28.2         451.7       0.4        76      858       2.1       211 
Washington, OR...........          16.2         248.1      -1.6       233      985       1.9       230 
Allegheny, PA............          35.4         686.8      -0.1       121      886       2.7       161 
Berks, PA................           9.3         168.3      -0.2       132      770       0.8       281 
Bucks, PA................          20.2         260.8      -1.8       250      819       3.9        62 
Butler, PA...............           4.9          81.1       1.1        37      747       4.2        46 
Chester, PA..............          15.2         244.2       0.9        45    1,024      -1.9       320 
Cumberland, PA...........           6.0         125.8      -0.9       189      774       1.7       244 
Dauphin, PA..............           7.4         183.1       0.1       101      820       2.1       211 
Delaware, PA.............          13.7         210.7       0.1       101      878       3.7        73 
                                                                                                       
Erie, PA.................           7.4         128.5      -0.5       153      680       3.3       103 
Lackawanna, PA...........           5.9         101.2      -1.0       192      651       3.5        82 
Lancaster, PA............          12.5         229.4      -0.8       179      720       2.7       161 
Lehigh, PA...............           8.8         178.9      -0.2       132      829      -0.6       312 
Luzerne, PA..............           7.9         143.6       0.0       110      663       1.8       234 
Montgomery, PA...........          27.6         487.7       0.3        84    1,012       1.5       255 
Northampton, PA..........           6.5          99.0      -1.6       233      743       3.2       110 
Philadelphia, PA.........          31.0         634.8       0.7        59    1,021       4.6        40 
Washington, PA...........           5.4          81.3       2.3         9      739       2.4       183 
Westmoreland, PA.........           9.5         137.6       0.3        84      684       4.0        57 
                                                                                                       
York, PA.................           9.2         178.7       0.2        97      741       1.9       230 
Kent, RI.................           5.7          78.5      -4.7       314      732       0.7       287 
Providence, RI...........          18.1         281.9      -2.2       268      805       3.5        82 
Charleston, SC...........          12.7         212.6      -0.6       162      723       3.1       123 
Greenville, SC...........          12.9         241.1       0.8        50      728       2.2       201 
Horry, SC................           8.5         116.9      -3.8       303      537       0.4       297 
Lexington, SC............           5.8          98.4      -0.6       162      652       2.2       201 
Richland, SC.............           9.6         215.2      -1.1       200      749       2.7       161 
Spartanburg, SC..........           6.2         119.2      -3.2       291      734       4.0        57 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.4         116.7       1.4        24      717       3.2       110 
                                                                                                       
Davidson, TN.............          18.7         437.4      -2.1       264      861       2.4       183 
Hamilton, TN.............           8.6         193.4      -0.5       153      718       1.0       270 
Knox, TN.................          11.3         230.1       0.0       110      711       2.0       221 
Rutherford, TN...........           4.4          97.7      -3.7       300      840      17.3         1 
Shelby, TN...............          20.0         500.6      -1.7       245      855       0.6       290 
Williamson, TN...........           6.0          87.1      -0.4       145      915       5.8        15 
Bell, TX.................           4.6         103.0       1.9        17      663       2.5       176 
Bexar, TX................          32.5         729.1       1.2        30      734       2.1       211 
Brazoria, TX.............           4.6          86.0       0.1       101      800       0.8       281 
Brazos, TX...............           3.8          85.2       1.0        39      646       3.2       110 
                                                                                                       
Cameron, TX..............           6.4         122.4      -0.1       121      538       4.1        52 
Collin, TX...............          17.2         294.8       2.0        15      997       1.1       266 
Dallas, TX...............          68.2       1,489.1       0.5        69    1,025       2.4       183 
Denton, TX...............          10.6         168.8       1.4        24      738       3.1       123 
El Paso, TX..............          13.5         271.4       1.2        30      601       0.8       281 
Fort Bend, TX............           8.4         128.9       2.5         6      865       2.1       211 
Galveston, TX............           5.2          95.7       0.4        76      803       3.5        82 
Harris, TX...............          97.3       2,047.2       1.3        29    1,050       3.0       139 
Hidalgo, TX..............          10.6         214.8       1.2        30      549       3.8        66 
Jefferson, TX............           5.9         123.3      -1.3       212      820       3.8        66 
                                                                                                       
Lubbock, TX..............           6.8         124.7       1.9        17      641       4.2        46 
McLennan, TX.............           4.9         103.2       (7)         -      685       4.1        52 
Montgomery, TX...........           8.2         125.8       3.0         3      785       5.5        18 
Nueces, TX...............           8.1         155.0       2.5         6      728       2.5       176 
Potter, TX...............           3.8          77.2       3.1         2      729       (7)         - 
Smith, TX................           5.3          94.4       2.4         8      743       4.2        46 
Tarrant, TX..............          37.4         769.5       0.8        50      843       1.0       270 
Travis, TX...............          29.0         581.5       1.6        21      924       1.3       260 
Webb, TX.................           4.8          88.5      -0.4       145      559       2.0       221 
Williamson, TX...........           7.2         120.8       1.6        21      800       3.1       123 
                                                                                                       
Davis, UT................           7.3         103.5      -1.5       226      659      -1.1       314 
Salt Lake, UT............          38.5         591.7       0.5        69      796       3.0       139 
Utah, UT.................          13.1         175.8      -1.3       212      665       3.3       103 
Weber, UT................           5.7          94.4      -0.8       179      637       3.6        76 
Chittenden, VT...........           6.0          95.6      -0.3       141      838       3.2       110 
Arlington, VA............           7.8         156.2       0.8        50    1,348      -1.3       315 
Chesterfield, VA.........           7.6         118.9      -2.5       272      774       3.6        76 
Fairfax, VA..............          34.0         587.0       0.3        84    1,295       4.2        46 
Henrico, VA..............           9.7         177.2      -1.5       226      852       2.3       192 
Loudoun, VA..............           9.1         133.3       2.3         9    1,006      -0.3       309 
                                                                                                       
Prince William, VA.......           7.3         103.3      -0.8       179      775       2.8       156 
Alexandria City, VA......           6.2         100.9       0.9        45    1,160       2.4       183 
Chesapeake City, VA......           5.8          99.3      -1.6       233      678       2.3       192 
Newport News City, VA....           4.0          98.6      -1.2       205      769       2.1       211 
Norfolk City, VA.........           5.9         144.1       0.0       110      815      -1.6       317 
Richmond City, VA........           7.5         159.0       (7)         -      954       (7)         - 
Virginia Beach City, VA..          11.7         174.7      -0.9       189      656       2.0       221 
Clark, WA................          12.5         134.4       0.5        69      777       3.7        73 
King, WA.................          78.5       1,198.7       1.4        24    1,162       2.9       148 
Kitsap, WA...............           6.8          83.8      -0.1       121      766      -0.5       310 
                                                                                                       
Pierce, WA...............          21.1         278.4      -0.1       121      774       2.7       161 
Snohomish, WA............          18.2         256.0       0.3        84      856       1.7       244 
Spokane, WA..............          15.6         211.5       0.1       101      700       2.9       148 
Thurston, WA.............           7.1         102.0       2.1        14      786       0.6       290 
Whatcom, WA..............           7.0          83.3       0.8        50      679       3.0       139 
Yakima, WA...............           8.3         111.2       3.2         1      580       2.1       211 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.1         108.5      -0.5       153      738       4.8        33 
Brown, WI................           6.8         148.7      -1.0       192      754       4.7        36 
Dane, WI.................          14.3         304.1       (7)         -      823       (7)         - 
Milwaukee, WI............          21.5         498.3      -0.1       121      839       4.7        36 
                                                                                                       
Outagamie, WI............           5.1         104.2       0.0       110      719       1.6       250 
Racine, WI...............           4.2          76.4      -0.7       174      756       2.7       161 
Waukesha, WI.............          13.4         233.7      -1.2       205      836       2.5       176 
Winnebago, WI............           3.8          91.1       0.5        69      768       0.0       307 
San Juan, PR.............          13.1         283.5      -1.2       (8)      569       6.0       (8) 

(1) Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs. These 334 U.S. counties comprise 71.2 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 2008(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                                    Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                                           wage(3)     
                                              Establishments,                                          
                                               third quarter                                           
         County by NAICS supersector                2008                    Percent            Percent 
                                                (thousands)    September    change,  Average   change, 
                                                                  2008     September  weekly    third  
                                                              (thousands) 2007-08(4)   wage    quarter 
                                                                                             2007-08(4)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
United States(5).............................       9,150.8     135,173.8      -0.8     $841       2.8 
  Private industry...........................       8,857.7     113,499.1      -1.1      833       2.8 
    Natural resources and mining.............         126.2       2,003.6       3.6      880       7.3 
    Construction.............................         889.2       7,255.4      -6.7      922       5.1 
    Manufacturing............................         361.0      13,345.0      -3.6    1,006       1.9 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....       1,927.8      25,953.1      -1.3      719       1.7 
    Information..............................         146.3       2,973.8      -2.0    1,335       4.9 
    Financial activities.....................         866.3       7,919.9      -2.5    1,207       0.8 
    Professional and business services.......       1,528.7      17,752.2      -1.4    1,045       4.6 
    Education and health services............         851.2      17,996.4       2.7      803       3.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................         739.3      13,568.1       0.0      358       2.9 
    Other services...........................       1,205.9       4,482.9       0.9      544       2.4 
  Government.................................         293.1      21,674.7       1.0      886       3.0 
                                                                                                       
Los Angeles, CA..............................         428.8       4,141.1      -1.5      951       3.1 
  Private industry...........................         424.8       3,581.8      -1.4      923       2.7 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5          11.7      -2.8    1,232       9.3 
    Construction.............................          14.0         145.0      -9.5      994       5.2 
    Manufacturing............................          14.6         432.3      -3.4    1,009       4.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          53.7         792.1      -2.1      775       2.1 
    Information..............................           8.7         214.8       (6)    1,551       (6) 
    Financial activities.....................          24.1         233.8      -5.4    1,482       0.1 
    Professional and business services.......          42.5         583.7       (6)    1,104       (6) 
    Education and health services............          28.0         488.8       1.7      888       4.5 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          27.0         401.6      -0.2      536       3.3 
    Other services...........................         195.2         259.5       4.2      439       0.5 
  Government.................................           4.0         559.3       (6)    1,132       5.8 
                                                                                                       
Cook, IL.....................................         140.4       2,504.2      -1.3      988       2.8 
  Private industry...........................         139.0       2,195.4      -1.5      986       2.8 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.1           1.3      -3.6      960      -9.3 
    Construction.............................          12.4          92.9      -5.9    1,284       5.9 
    Manufacturing............................           7.0         226.3      -4.1    1,002       2.5 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          27.6         460.4      -2.3      788       1.8 
    Information..............................           2.5          56.5      -1.5    1,557      10.2 
    Financial activities.....................          15.7         206.3      -3.2    1,538      -0.8 
    Professional and business services.......          28.9         434.2      -2.1    1,248       5.3 
    Education and health services............          13.9         378.9       2.9      873       3.3 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          11.7         237.8      -1.3      443       3.3 
    Other services...........................          14.5          96.6       1.5      707       2.2 
  Government.................................           1.4         308.8       0.0    1,009       2.9 
                                                                                                       
New York, NY.................................         118.9       2,363.8       0.6    1,552       0.5 
  Private industry...........................         118.6       1,919.7       0.7    1,673       0.4 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.0           0.2      -8.9    1,820      14.0 
    Construction.............................           2.4          37.8       4.1    1,535       5.4 
    Manufacturing............................           3.0          35.4      -5.8    1,183      -2.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          22.1         248.9       0.4    1,127       0.4 
    Information..............................           4.6         135.9       0.0    1,982       4.2 
    Financial activities.....................          19.1         372.9      -2.1    2,985      -2.2 
    Professional and business services.......          25.6         491.8       1.4    1,799       2.3 
    Education and health services............           8.8         283.4       0.6    1,059       4.7 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          11.7         218.9       3.9      748       3.2 
    Other services...........................          18.0          89.1       2.1      919       4.1 
  Government.................................           0.3         444.1       0.1    1,027       1.4 
                                                                                                       
Harris, TX...................................          97.3       2,047.2       1.3    1,050       3.0 
  Private industry...........................          96.7       1,796.9       1.1    1,061       2.9 
    Natural resources and mining.............           1.6          84.8       7.9    2,585       (6) 
    Construction.............................           6.7         157.2       (6)    1,005       (6) 
    Manufacturing............................           4.6         187.3       2.8    1,272      -1.1 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          22.4         428.3       1.0      919       2.1 
    Information..............................           1.4          31.9      -2.4    1,285       2.1 
    Financial activities.....................          10.6         118.2       (6)    1,287       2.6 
    Professional and business services.......          19.4         336.5       (6)    1,233       4.8 
    Education and health services............          10.3         218.7       1.6      865       4.3 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.5         174.2      -1.2      385       5.2 
    Other services...........................          11.7          58.5       0.2      598       1.2 
  Government.................................           0.5         250.3       2.7      973       5.1 
                                                                                                       
Maricopa, AZ.................................         103.0       1,761.0      -3.7      836       1.8 
  Private industry...........................         102.3       1,535.7      -4.5      825       1.9 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           8.5       0.9      840      16.5 
    Construction.............................          11.0         130.8     -21.8      878       5.1 
    Manufacturing............................           3.6         125.0      -5.6    1,137       2.1 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          22.8         361.4      -3.9      770      -0.3 
    Information..............................           1.7          29.8      -2.0    1,083       5.5 
    Financial activities.....................          12.9         142.4      -4.0    1,004      -1.8 
    Professional and business services.......          22.9         293.9      -6.4      863       4.2 
    Education and health services............          10.1         216.2       7.8      906       2.7 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.4         176.8      -1.7      394       1.8 
    Other services...........................           7.3          49.2      -2.3      584       3.4 
  Government.................................           0.7         225.3       2.3      915       0.9 
                                                                                                       
Orange, CA...................................         102.5       1,469.5      -2.8      955       3.0 
  Private industry...........................         101.1       1,327.1      -3.0      947       2.4 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.2           4.5     -10.7      681       7.1 
    Construction.............................           6.9          90.0     -13.4    1,094       6.0 
    Manufacturing............................           5.3         171.4      -3.2    1,133       3.5 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          17.3         270.0      -4.0      880       1.7 
    Information..............................           1.3          29.4      -1.2    1,552      15.6 
    Financial activities.....................          10.8         112.3      -9.0    1,346      -1.0 
    Professional and business services.......          19.0         266.8      -4.2    1,071       4.5 
    Education and health services............          10.0         148.9       3.9      899       3.7 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           7.1         177.8       1.3      420       2.2 
    Other services...........................          17.5          49.4       2.6      551      -1.6 
  Government.................................           1.4         142.3      -1.2    1,033       9.2 
                                                                                                       
Dallas, TX...................................          68.2       1,489.1       0.5    1,025       2.4 
  Private industry...........................          67.6       1,321.8       0.3    1,034       2.3 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.6           8.3      14.7    4,831      61.8 
    Construction.............................           4.4          84.7       0.3      922       2.6 
    Manufacturing............................           3.1         132.9      -4.0    1,148      -1.0 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          15.1         304.7       0.1      953       0.3 
    Information..............................           1.7          47.6      -3.2    1,445       5.8 
    Financial activities.....................           8.9         143.9       0.4    1,311      -3.7 
    Professional and business services.......          14.8         279.1       0.7    1,153       2.6 
    Education and health services............           6.7         150.7       3.1      938       4.1 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           5.4         129.7       1.5      461       4.5 
    Other services...........................           6.5          39.1      -0.5      634       4.1 
  Government.................................           0.5         167.3       2.0      952       3.6 
                                                                                                       
San Diego, CA................................          99.6       1,318.0      -1.2      921       3.8 
  Private industry...........................          98.3       1,099.8      -1.5      904       4.1 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.8          11.4      -3.6      564       1.6 
    Construction.............................           7.1          76.2     -12.9      988       4.2 
    Manufacturing............................           3.1         102.1      -0.4    1,198       3.3 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          14.2         214.5      -3.2      733      -0.8 
    Information..............................           1.3          39.1       3.6    2,244      30.4 
    Financial activities.....................           9.6          75.2      -5.2    1,090      -2.2 
    Professional and business services.......          16.2         215.9      -2.2    1,131       4.6 
    Education and health services............           8.1         135.5       3.8      869       4.3 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.9         165.8       0.0      419       2.9 
    Other services...........................          26.1          58.2       1.6      489       1.5 
  Government.................................           1.3         218.2       0.4    1,014       2.7 
                                                                                                       
King, WA.....................................          78.5       1,198.7       1.4    1,162       2.9 
  Private industry...........................          78.0       1,045.7       1.3    1,176       2.7 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.4           3.2       0.8    1,288      12.1 
    Construction.............................           6.9          72.3      -2.9    1,083       4.9 
    Manufacturing............................           2.5         112.0      -0.8    1,259       0.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          15.2         220.2       0.3      921       3.5 
    Information..............................           1.8          80.9       5.9    3,364       8.3 
    Financial activities.....................           7.1          74.6      -0.9    1,368       6.0 
    Professional and business services.......          13.9         193.2       1.3    1,243      -6.3 
    Education and health services............           6.6         126.5       5.2      863       3.0 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.2         115.7       1.9      447       0.9 
    Other services...........................          17.5          47.2       4.2      601       4.7 
  Government.................................           0.5         153.0       2.1    1,064       4.9 
                                                                                                       
Miami-Dade, FL...............................          87.8         993.1      -3.2      842       2.2 
  Private industry...........................          87.5         842.7      -3.5      805       1.5 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           7.7      -9.6      474      -2.3 
    Construction.............................           6.6          44.2     -20.3      844       2.9 
    Manufacturing............................           2.6          42.8     -10.2      745       3.5 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          23.5         248.8      -2.1      746      -0.4 
    Information..............................           1.5          19.0      -7.5    1,227       2.8 
    Financial activities.....................          10.4          68.0      -5.6    1,156       0.3 
    Professional and business services.......          18.1         129.8      -4.4    1,011       4.6 
    Education and health services............           9.4         144.2       2.8      822       1.7 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.0         100.6      -2.0      481       4.3 
    Other services...........................           7.6          35.9      -0.5      523       1.4 
  Government.................................           0.4         150.4      -1.4    1,058       4.9 

(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 2008(2)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                       wage(4)     
                          Establishments,                                          
                           third quarter                                           
        County(3)               2008                    Percent            Percent 
                            (thousands)    September    change,  Average   change, 
                                              2008     September  weekly    third  
                                          (thousands) 2007-08(5)   wage    quarter 
                                                                         2007-08(5)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
United States(6).........       9,150.8     135,173.8      -0.8     $841       2.8 
                                                                                   
Jefferson, AL............          19.0         357.9      -1.6      863       3.1 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           8.3         152.0       2.0      922       3.1 
Maricopa, AZ.............         103.0       1,761.0      -3.7      836       1.8 
Pulaski, AR..............          15.1         252.2       0.3      765       2.0 
Los Angeles, CA..........         428.8       4,141.1      -1.5      951       3.1 
Denver, CO...............          26.0         453.3       0.5    1,031       3.6 
Hartford, CT.............          25.6         506.7       0.3    1,012       0.9 
New Castle, DE...........          18.5         278.0      -1.5      981       2.6 
Washington, DC...........          33.8         688.2       1.4    1,391       1.0 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          87.8         993.1      -3.2      842       2.2 
                                                                                   
Fulton, GA...............          39.1         741.7      -1.0    1,078       1.9 
Honolulu, HI.............          24.7         444.6      -1.6      800       1.8 
Ada, ID..................          15.0         210.4      -1.5      746      -0.5 
Cook, IL.................         140.4       2,504.2      -1.3      988       2.8 
Marion, IN...............          24.2         580.5      -0.7      852       2.7 
Polk, IA.................          14.9         276.3       0.6      831       3.5 
Johnson, KS..............          20.6         318.1       0.1      867       4.0 
Jefferson, KY............          22.3         426.4      -2.3      799       1.1 
East Baton Rouge, LA.....          14.4         261.4      -0.1      790       6.6 
Cumberland, ME...........          12.0         174.0      -0.1      768       3.4 
                                                                                   
Montgomery, MD...........          32.8         459.0      -0.4    1,122       2.9 
Middlesex, MA............          47.6         825.1       0.8    1,200       1.8 
Wayne, MI................          32.1         717.9      -4.2      942       1.4 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.2         840.7      -0.8    1,102       5.4 
Hinds, MS................           6.4         126.6      -0.6      745       4.3 
St. Louis, MO............          32.9         605.6      -1.0      890       1.8 
Yellowstone, MT..........           5.8          78.5       0.7      688       2.4 
Douglas, NE..............          16.0         321.4       0.9      820       4.9 
Clark, NV................          50.9         903.7      -2.0      812       2.0 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.4         196.5      -0.6      924       2.7 
                                                                                   
Bergen, NJ...............          35.0         445.7      -1.3    1,031       2.3 
Bernalillo, NM...........          17.6         335.6       0.2      763       3.8 
New York, NY.............         118.9       2,363.8       0.6    1,552       0.5 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          33.3         570.0       0.0      956       3.5 
Cass, ND.................           5.9         101.1       2.6      723       5.1 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          38.1         732.3      -1.7      853       2.4 
Oklahoma, OK.............          24.0         427.1       1.2      784       4.7 
Multnomah, OR............          28.2         451.7       0.4      858       2.1 
Allegheny, PA............          35.4         686.8      -0.1      886       2.7 
Providence, RI...........          18.1         281.9      -2.2      805       3.5 
                                                                                   
Greenville, SC...........          12.9         241.1       0.8      728       2.2 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.4         116.7       1.4      717       3.2 
Shelby, TN...............          20.0         500.6      -1.7      855       0.6 
Harris, TX...............          97.3       2,047.2       1.3    1,050       3.0 
Salt Lake, UT............          38.5         591.7       0.5      796       3.0 
Chittenden, VT...........           6.0          95.6      -0.3      838       3.2 
Fairfax, VA..............          34.0         587.0       0.3    1,295       4.2 
King, WA.................          78.5       1,198.7       1.4    1,162       2.9 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.1         108.5      -0.5      738       4.8 
Milwaukee, WI............          21.5         498.3      -0.1      839       4.7 
                                                                                   
Laramie, WY..............           3.2          44.2       0.9      718       3.9 
                                                                                   
San Juan, PR.............          13.1         283.5      -1.2      569       6.0 
St. Thomas, VI...........           1.8          23.6       1.4      651       2.2 

(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 2008(2)
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                Employment        Average weekly 
                                                                      wage(3)    
                          Establishments,                                        
                           third quarter                                         
          State                 2008                    Percent           Percent
                            (thousands)    September    change,  Average  change,
                                              2008     September  weekly   third 
                                          (thousands)   2007-08    wage   quarter
                                                                          2007-08
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
United States(4).........       9,150.8     135,173.8      -0.8     $841      2.8
                                                                                 
Alabama..................         121.8       1,936.4      -1.2      730      3.3
Alaska...................          21.6         332.1       1.4      872      3.7
Arizona..................         164.1       2,570.1      -3.0      798      2.0
Arkansas.................          86.1       1,185.0      -0.1      649      3.0
California...............       1,344.6      15,527.1      -1.4      959      2.9
Colorado.................         180.4       2,322.7       0.4      877      3.8
Connecticut..............         113.5       1,692.5      -0.3    1,032      1.0
Delaware.................          29.5         420.6      -1.1      879      2.1
District of Columbia.....          33.8         688.2       1.4    1,391      1.0
Florida..................         625.2       7,546.4      -4.1      756      2.2
                                                                                 
Georgia..................         276.6       4,018.6      -1.6      794      1.5
Hawaii...................          39.1         613.0      -2.1      774      1.8
Idaho....................          57.0         665.7      -1.4      643      1.3
Illinois.................         369.7       5,872.8      -0.7      891      2.9
Indiana..................         160.5       2,897.6      -1.4      718      2.3
Iowa.....................          94.6       1,499.0       0.2      696      4.2
Kansas...................          86.7       1,368.9       0.0      711      4.6
Kentucky.................         110.4       1,795.3      -1.0      692      2.4
Louisiana................         124.1       1,877.4      -0.2      756      5.6
Maine....................          50.7         610.8      -0.6      683      3.5
                                                                                 
Maryland.................         163.9       2,543.4      -0.8      920      3.1
Massachusetts............         213.9       3,265.7       0.0    1,025      2.3
Michigan.................         259.0       4,093.9      -3.0      820      1.5
Minnesota................         171.6       2,699.6      -0.5      862      4.7
Mississippi..............          70.8       1,128.3      -1.3      631      4.0
Missouri.................         175.4       2,736.1      -0.4      739      2.8
Montana..................          43.3         446.4       0.1      628      3.1
Nebraska.................          60.0         925.7       0.2      694      4.2
Nevada...................          77.5       1,253.0      -2.7      809      2.1
New Hampshire............          49.8         634.6      -0.5      822      2.8
                                                                                 
New Jersey...............         277.8       3,952.9      -0.7      990      2.5
New Mexico...............          54.7         835.2       0.7      712      3.5
New York.................         586.1       8,633.8       0.5    1,030      2.2
North Carolina...........         259.4       4,064.2      -1.0      741      3.1
North Dakota.............          25.8         357.0       2.8      665      6.9
Ohio.....................         295.5       5,251.1      -1.5      766      2.8
Oklahoma.................         100.9       1,562.8       1.2      698      4.5
Oregon...................         132.5       1,734.1      -1.0      766      2.1
Pennsylvania.............         343.5       5,679.0       0.0      822      2.5
Rhode Island.............          35.9         476.0      -2.0      778      2.5
                                                                                 
South Carolina...........         119.6       1,874.6      -1.5      683      2.9
South Dakota.............          30.6         401.3       1.0      623      4.2
Tennessee................         143.5       2,730.4      -1.5      745      2.8
Texas....................         563.6      10,438.3       1.4      850      2.9
Utah.....................          87.3       1,229.3      -0.1      717      2.9
Vermont..................          25.1         304.2      -0.5      722      3.3
Virginia.................         232.7       3,676.1      -0.3      877      2.3
Washington...............         225.5       3,007.5       1.0      903      3.0
West Virginia............          48.9         716.4       0.6      661      5.9
Wisconsin................         161.6       2,788.7      -0.6      730      3.4
                                                                                 
Wyoming..................          25.2         294.0       3.3      781      6.4
                                                                                 
Puerto Rico..............          55.6         992.8      -1.6      477      5.5
Virgin Islands...........           3.5          44.9      -0.9      709      4.3

(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 08, 2009