Employment rose in all seven of the largest counties in Missouri from September 2020 to September 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. The independent city of St. Louis has been designated as a county-equivalent entity for the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program.) Regional Commissioner Michael Hirniak noted that Boone County and St. Louis City had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 4.5 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

 

National employment increased 4.4 percent over the year, with 332 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Honolulu, HI, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 13.3 percent. Jefferson, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 3.2 percent.

Among the seven largest counties in Missouri, employment was highest in St. Louis County (577,400) in September 2021. Within St. Louis County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest Missouri counties accounted for 60.9 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.3 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 108 counties in Missouri with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 108 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,251 in the third quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) Greene County (+8.4 percent) had a rate of wage gain that was above the national rate of 6.7 percent. Wages in Jackson County increased by 5.9 percent and in St. Louis City by 5.6 percent. Over-the-year wage gains among Missouri’s other four large counties ranged from 4.6 percent to 2.2 percent.

 

Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 333 had over-the-year wage increases. San Mateo, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+27.2 percent). Union, NJ, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

St. Louis City, with average weekly wages of $1,279, was the only county in Missouri to record wages above the national average of $1,251 in the third quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in St. Louis City ($1,279, 79^th) and St. Louis County ($1,249, 86^th) ranked among the top 100 nationwide.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2021. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,710. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 258 counties. At $756 a week, Cameron, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Missouri’s smaller counties

Among the 108 smaller counties in Missouri—those with employment below 75,000—Platte ($1,000) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state. Worth County ($495) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 115 counties in Missouri were considered, 30 reported average weekly wages of less than $674, 39 registered wages from $675 to $774, 30 had wages from $775 to $874 and 16 had average weekly wages of $875 or higher. (See chart 3.) The higher-paying counties were located in and around the major metropolitan areas. The lowest paying counties were mainly located in the south part 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/.

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 seven largest counties in Missouri, third quarter 2021

Area	Establishments, third quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage (1)
		September 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, September 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Third quarter 2021	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, third quarter 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	11,021.4	144,863.9	4.4	--	$1,251	--	6.7	--
Missouri	223.9	2,760.3	2.9	--	1,055	31	6.0	26
Boone	5.4	95.3	4.5	92	1,031	251	2.2	317
Clay	6.3	103.5	0.9	316	1,031	251	3.1	300
Greene	10.0	168.3	2.0	263	971	302	8.4	35
Jackson	23.8	362.8	2.9	204	1,200	114	5.9	146
St. Charles	10.4	154.2	1.8	278	958	310	3.9	266
St. Louis	42.7	577.4	1.9	267	1,249	86	4.6	229
St. Louis City	15.2	218.3	3.8	141	1,279	79	5.6	168
(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 Missouri, third quarter 2021

Area	Establishments	Employment September 2021	Average weekly wage (1)
United States (2)	11,021,414	144,863,915	$1,251
Missouri	223,918	2,760,342	1,055
Adair	677	9,413	727
Andrew	535	2,850	689
Atchison	226	1,678	739
Audrain	629	8,333	775
Barry	922	13,861	819
Barton	330	3,313	722
Bates	458	3,584	713
Benton	572	3,632	670
Bollinger	243	1,777	640
Boone	5,392	95,315	1,031
Buchanan	2,464	44,686	988
Butler	1,569	18,286	769
Caldwell	226	1,921	692
Callaway	881	14,694	938
Camden	1,688	17,303	798
Cape Girardeau	2,899	40,107	894
Carroll	308	2,338	737
Carter	241	1,547	593
Cass	2,407	28,439	821
Cedar	350	3,179	624
Chariton	282	1,871	699
Christian	2,166	18,697	732
Clark	179	1,420	600
Clay	6,262	103,537	1,031
Clinton	451	4,209	789
Cole	2,414	51,234	906
Cooper	477	4,573	709
Crawford	660	6,743	767
Dade	185	1,680	687
Dallas	407	2,603	557
Daviess	265	1,633	602
De Kalb	265	2,732	738
Dent	558	3,806	705
Douglas	245	2,390	620
Dunklin	1,469	8,647	603
Franklin	3,069	37,703	886
Gasconade	488	5,293	668
Gentry	230	2,097	779
Greene	10,013	168,293	971
Grundy	287	2,837	688
Harrison	284	2,428	672
Henry	687	7,566	835
Hickory	192	1,424	622
Holt	188	1,188	754
Howard	223	2,456	629
Howell	1,369	14,982	736
Iron	596	3,311	788
Jackson	23,816	362,839	1,200
Jasper	3,500	57,418	844
Jefferson	4,476	47,206	826
Johnson	1,190	15,465	780
Knox	113	879	637
Laclede	852	13,494	783
Lafayette	876	8,646	696
Lawrence	916	8,456	762
Lewis	240	2,377	743
Lincoln	1,136	11,940	842
Linn	381	3,789	758
Livingston	467	6,157	730
McDonald	436	6,760	806
Macon	416	4,850	716
Madison	346	3,676	664
Maries	158	1,299	748
Marion	972	12,852	830
Mercer	103	1,554	817
Miller	726	7,750	717
Mississippi	459	3,231	682
Moniteau	363	4,228	800
Monroe	249	1,755	658
Montgomery	311	3,077	776
Morgan	600	4,866	640
New Madrid	856	7,412	787
Newton	1,501	20,272	913
Nodaway	594	8,028	741
Oregon	260	2,186	548
Osage	282	4,095	827
Ozark	216	1,495	536
Pemiscot	862	5,060	632
Perry	583	8,982	839
Pettis	1,310	18,749	802
Phelps	1,214	18,571	850
Pike	490	5,199	728
Platte	2,926	43,171	1,000
Polk	756	9,458	766
Pulaski	852	13,011	844
Putnam	130	879	635
Ralls	254	3,521	918
Randolph	652	9,484	808
Ray	444	4,042	760
Reynolds	262	1,882	749
Ripley	634	2,762	505
St. Charles	10,415	154,219	958
St. Clair	217	1,607	613
Ste. Genevieve	476	5,845	904
St. Francois	1,727	22,288	686
St. Louis	42,698	577,426	1,249
Saline	642	8,647	787
Schuyler	98	578	595
Scotland	144	1,122	723
Scott	1,369	15,798	809
Shannon	228	1,552	572
Shelby	194	1,756	712
Stoddard	915	10,380	776
Stone	800	6,957	653
Sullivan	160	2,279	857
Taney	2,066	28,533	699
Texas	603	5,585	674
Vernon	713	6,801	768
Warren	699	7,752	822
Washington	688	4,887	633
Wayne	420	2,158	591
Webster	851	8,580	744
Worth	72	403	495
Wright	522	4,345	708
St. Louis City	15,195	218,314	1,279
(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, third quarter 2021

State	Establishments, third quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage (1)
		September 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, September 2020–21	Third quarter 2021	National ranking by level	Percent change, third quarter 2020–21	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	11,021.4	144,863.9	4.4	$1,251	--	6.7	--
Alabama	139.8	1,955.3	2.6	1,030	36	5.3	37
Alaska	24.0	316.9	4.6	1,205	16	3.4	50
Arizona	184.5	2,926.3	4.6	1,167	19	7.0	13
Arkansas	97.4	1,212.9	2.9	963	47	7.8	6
California	1,679.6	17,208.7	6.6	1,576	4	7.7	8
Colorado	231.8	2,723.4	4.8	1,322	9	7.0	13
Connecticut	132.0	1,605.1	2.9	1,401	6	5.7	31
Delaware	35.9	439.7	2.1	1,198	18	4.4	45
District of Columbia	45.4	736.1	3.1	2,042	1	4.1	46
Florida	808.4	8,910.9	7.0	1,120	25	8.7	3
Georgia	343.9	4,491.4	4.9	1,158	20	6.8	17
Hawaii	49.2	592.8	16.6	1,150	22	3.3	51
Idaho	79.2	804.0	5.3	953	50	7.8	6
Illinois	398.4	5,751.2	3.3	1,274	11	6.3	22
Indiana	178.9	3,020.6	2.6	1,032	34	7.4	10
Iowa	106.8	1,509.6	2.2	1,015	39	4.9	43
Kansas	92.1	1,349.3	1.7	997	40	4.7	44
Kentucky	134.3	1,869.0	3.4	989	43	5.8	28
Louisiana	144.2	1,772.7	1.7	1,021	37	5.4	36
Maine	58.5	619.9	3.6	1,031	35	6.7	18
Maryland	178.1	2,604.6	3.9	1,314	10	3.5	49
Massachusetts	281.4	3,501.0	5.5	1,593	2	7.0	13
Michigan	271.3	4,181.4	3.6	1,154	21	5.3	37
Minnesota	186.9	2,780.5	2.7	1,249	13	6.1	24
Mississippi	77.3	1,122.2	2.6	859	51	6.3	22
Missouri	223.9	2,760.3	2.9	1,055	31	6.0	26
Montana	57.0	487.5	4.4	963	47	6.5	21
Nebraska	75.6	964.6	1.4	1,017	38	5.5	35
Nevada	96.0	1,389.5	10.8	1,135	23	8.3	5
New Hampshire	60.0	654.6	3.3	1,349	8	15.0	1
New Jersey	304.1	3,977.2	5.1	1,384	7	4.1	46
New Mexico	64.8	806.2	4.2	997	40	5.6	32
New York	671.2	8,922.4	4.4	1,534	5	6.1	24
North Carolina	318.4	4,516.4	4.5	1,112	26	7.1	11
North Dakota	33.0	407.2	2.2	1,076	30	5.1	40
Ohio	315.7	5,248.0	2.2	1,098	28	5.6	32
Oklahoma	116.4	1,576.6	1.8	966	45	5.6	32
Oregon	171.2	1,909.5	3.7	1,220	15	9.6	2
Pennsylvania	375.4	5,685.4	3.2	1,205	16	5.8	28
Rhode Island	43.2	474.1	4.8	1,131	24	3.6	48
South Carolina	152.9	2,086.0	2.8	988	44	6.9	16
South Dakota	37.0	435.6	3.1	965	46	5.1	40
Tennessee	187.7	3,044.1	4.2	1,111	27	8.7	3
Texas	770.0	12,613.1	5.6	1,227	14	6.7	18
Utah	123.1	1,594.7	5.0	1,087	29	7.1	11
Vermont	28.1	293.5	2.7	1,055	31	5.8	28
Virginia	299.2	3,845.3	2.9	1,264	12	5.3	37
Washington	266.6	3,415.2	4.4	1,578	3	6.6	20
West Virginia	53.6	664.2	2.7	960	49	5.0	42
Wisconsin	189.5	2,815.9	2.3	1,049	33	7.5	9
Wyoming	28.7	271.1	2.5	995	42	6.0	26
Puerto Rico	47.9	887.9	6.5	568	(3)	4.0	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.6	34.5	1.9	956	(3)	-5.4	(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.