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News Release Information

22-1287-KAN
Friday, June 17, 2022

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (816) 285-7000

County Employment and Wages in Colorado — Fourth Quarter 2021

Employment rose in Colorado’s nine large counties from December 2020 to December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that Denver County (+10.2 percent) had the largest over-the-year increase in employment among the nine largest counties in the state. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 5.2 percent over the year, with 334 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Clark, NV, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 13.3 percent. Hinds, MS, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.9 percent.

Among the nine largest counties in Colorado, employment was highest in Denver County (538,600) in December 2021. Within Denver County’s private industry, professional and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the nine largest Colorado counties accounted for 81.1 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.4 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 55 counties in Colorado with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 52 of the 55 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All nine large Colorado counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) Six counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 5.9 percent. Adams County had the largest gain (+11.9 percent), followed by Douglas County (+9.1 percent) and Boulder County (+8.9 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Colorado’s other six large counties ranged from 8.4 percent to 5.2 percent.


Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 334 had over-the-year wage increases. Palm Beach, FL, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.6 percent). Kitsap, WA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-5.5 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 5 of the 9 largest counties in Colorado were above the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in four of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide: Denver ($1,814, 20th), Boulder ($1,799, 22nd), Douglas ($1,637, 37th), and Arapahoe ($1,609, 44th). Weld ($1,203, 204th) had the lowest average weekly wage among the largest Colorado counties.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 84 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2021. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $4,005. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 259 counties. At $826 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Colorado’s smaller counties

Among the 55 smaller counties in Colorado—those with employment below 75,000—3 reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,418: Broomfield ($2,231), Pitkin ($1,544), and Rio Blanco ($1,442). San Juan County ($663) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 64 counties in Colorado were considered, 14 reported average weekly wages of less than $849, 21 registered wages from $850 to $999, 11 had wages from $1,000 to $1,149, 8 had wages from $1,150 to $1,299, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,300 or more. (See chart 3.) Many of the higher-paying counties were located in and around the Denver metropolitan area. The lowest-paying counties, those with weekly wages under $849, were primarily concentrated in the southern portion of the state.

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for first quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for first quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.


Technical Note

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 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 average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting 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.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the nine largest counties in Colorado, fourth quarter 2021
AreaEstablishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
December 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Fourth quarter
2021
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,194.1148,293.65.2--$1,418--5.9--

Colorado

232.92,776.46.2--1,484107.83

Adams

13.1236.23.91941,37310111.95

Arapahoe

25.1333.63.91941,609445.2157

Boulder

18.0191.36.6481,799228.921

Denver

40.0538.610.251,814207.265

Douglas

14.6139.56.1581,637379.119

El Paso

23.6294.16.1581,2511715.7120

Jefferson

23.4240.03.91941,479667.749

Larimer

14.1168.97.5201,2941495.5133

Weld

8.7109.24.71481,2032048.429

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Colorado, fourth quarter 2021
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment December 2021Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,194,120148,293,597$1,418

Colorado

232,9272,776,3841,484

Adams

13,120236,2411,373

Alamosa

6148,360929

Arapahoe

25,071333,6231,609

Archuleta

6564,442845

Baca

1201,164769

Bent

991,081890

Boulder

17,989191,2541,799

Broomfield

3,30540,5922,231

Chaffee

1,1618,381951

Cheyenne

1067151,017

Clear Creek

3993,3681,033

Conejos

1981,542796

Costilla

114909721

Crowley

771,144996

Custer

185952813

Delta

9788,162862

Denver

40,040538,5761,814

Dolores

97585769

Douglas

14,581139,4801,637

Eagle

3,84434,7571,241

Elbert

7914,2041,126

El Paso

23,563294,1481,251

Fremont

1,07013,700973

Garfield

2,91825,3721,197

Gilpin

2104,2361,325

Grand

9597,940992

Gunnison

1,3009,111977

Hinsdale

82255744

Huerfano

2061,736853

Jackson

95588862

Jefferson

23,361240,0161,479

Kiowa

52473914

Kit Carson

3102,894865

Lake

2732,5831,028

La Plata

2,93325,6831,193

Larimer

14,136168,8501,294

Las Animas

5844,891891

Lincoln

1742,125906

Logan

6607,584951

Mesa

5,43563,8181,050

Mineral

79559788

Moffat

4944,4821,020

Montezuma

9939,1911,018

Montrose

1,59115,737944

Morgan

84212,3141,107

Otero

5106,057844

Ouray

3702,1981,043

Park

6342,746994

Phillips

1841,650913

Pitkin

2,08117,8061,544

Prowers

3924,655813

Pueblo

3,81062,8341,049

Rio Blanco

2782,8451,442

Rio Grande

4724,014939

Routt

2,01315,9841,154

Saguache

2221,470800

San Juan

90339663

San Miguel

7845,9971,151

Sedgwick

93771820

Summit

2,51623,3081,078

Teller

1,0247,756940

Washington

1501,141766

Weld

8,679109,2161,203

Yuma

4203,909915

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, fourth quarter 2021
StateEstablishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
December 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2020–21
Fourth quarter
2021
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2020–21
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,194.1148,293.65.2$1,418--5.9--

Alabama

141.22,007.03.11,153364.934

Alaska

24.1299.43.11,311194.143

Arizona

190.23,057.85.11,281235.527

Arkansas

97.01,236.13.41,064496.414

California

1,701.917,622.27.41,80444.837

Colorado

232.92,776.46.21,484107.83

Connecticut

134.01,639.93.91,61163.945

Delaware

37.0452.04.51,337165.923

District of Columbia

46.1749.45.12,32011.050

Florida

834.79,241.16.71,297209.72

Georgia

351.24,629.85.01,292217.09

Hawaii

50.4613.89.21,229280.851

Idaho

81.8802.35.11,111427.46

Illinois

400.55,877.35.41,473116.911

Indiana

179.43,089.33.41,153367.09

Iowa

107.31,527.42.21,157355.330

Kansas

92.51,381.02.41,132415.824

Kentucky

136.51,919.84.51,110435.033

Louisiana

146.11,853.92.91,142406.021

Maine

59.7613.73.31,163346.414

Maryland

178.12,648.43.91,49993.846

Massachusetts

281.83,556.95.51,83223.747

Michigan

274.94,250.86.31,291222.749

Minnesota

191.02,823.75.21,378134.044

Mississippi

78.51,147.32.4944514.837

Missouri

226.12,804.82.91,179334.540

Montana

56.7489.04.61,108447.18

Nebraska

77.5978.51.51,144386.119

Nevada

98.31,432.611.51,246255.824

New Hampshire

61.2662.23.91,580712.31

New Jersey

315.64,123.76.81,56383.048

New Mexico

66.5819.16.51,097474.441

New York

674.49,195.85.81,82936.813

North Carolina

324.74,646.64.71,241267.83

North Dakota

33.3407.93.41,192314.934

Ohio

318.85,352.62.91,221295.231

Oklahoma

117.81,604.52.11,080486.911

Oregon

173.41,915.04.81,332176.119

Pennsylvania

379.75,807.94.51,352155.132

Rhode Island

44.1475.55.71,315184.441

South Carolina

155.82,147.93.51,101466.414

South Dakota

37.6435.52.71,108445.726

Tennessee

191.73,123.33.91,258247.37

Texas

779.413,012.76.11,376146.317

Utah

126.91,624.14.31,231276.218

Vermont

28.7298.74.31,189324.934

Virginia

303.43,918.03.11,424124.837

Washington

276.13,427.06.31,68356.021

West Virginia

54.7674.43.11,053505.527

Wisconsin

194.02,832.62.41,202305.429

Wyoming

28.8267.22.71,143397.75

Puerto Rico

48.2935.36.8645(3)3.9(3)

Virgin Islands

3.435.0-0.41,090(3)3.0(3)

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, June 17, 2022