The U.S. average weekly wage rose by 4.2 percent from fourth quarter 2005 to fourth quarter 2006. Among the largest counties, Rockingham, N.H., had the greatest gain over the same time span with an increase of 18.0 percent.
Of the 325 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2005 annual average employment, 135 had over-the-year percentage growth in employment above the national average (1.6 percent) in December 2006 and 179 experienced changes below the national average. The percent change in average weekly wages was higher than the national average (4.2 percent) in 122 of the largest U.S. counties, but was below the national average in 185 counties.
Large County Employment
In December 2006, national employment, as measured by the QCEW program, was 135.9 million, up by 1.6 percent from December 2005. The 325 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 71.0 percent of total U.S. covered employment and 77.1 percent of total covered wages. These 325 counties had a net job gain of 1,409,950 over the year, accounting for 66.8 percent of the overall U.S. employment increase. Employment rose in 270 of the large counties from December 2005 to December 2006. Harrison County, Miss., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (18.7 percent). Orleans, La., had the next largest increase, 12.2 percent, followed by the counties of Jefferson, La. (10.5 percent), Williamson, Texas (7.7 percent), and Utah, Utah (6.8 percent). The large employment gains in Harrison, Orleans, and Jefferson counties reflected significant recovery from depressed employment levels in December 2005, which were related to Hurricane Katrina.
Employment declined in 41 counties from December 2005 to December 2006. The largest percentage decline in employment was in Trumbull County, Ohio (-4.7 percent). Elkhart, Ind., had the next largest employment decline (-3.3 percent), followed by the counties of Wayne, Mich. (-3.1 percent), Oakland, Mich. (-2.7 percent), and Genesee, Mich. (-2.4 percent). In each of these five counties, the greatest number of jobs lost occurred in the manufacturing industry.
The largest gains in the level of employment from December 2005 to December 2006 were recorded in the counties of Harris, Texas (76,300), Maricopa, Ariz. (68,500), New York, N.Y. (43,900), Dallas, Texas (42,600), and King, Wash. (34,200).
The largest declines in employment levels occurred in Wayne, Mich.(-25,100), followed by the counties of Oakland, Mich. (-19,800), Montgomery, Ohio (-5,200), and Elkhart, Ind., and Monroe, N.Y. (-4,200 each).
Large County Average Weekly Wages
The national average weekly wage in the fourth quarter of 2006 was $861. Average weekly wages were higher than the national average in 105 of the largest 325 U.S. counties. New York County, N.Y., held the top position among the highest-paid large counties with an average weekly wage of $1,781. Santa Clara, Calif., was second with an average weekly wage of $1,569, followed by Fairfield, Conn. ($1,515), Suffolk, Mass. ($1,481), and San Francisco, Calif. ($1,460).
There were 219 counties with an average weekly wage below the national average in the fourth quarter of 2006. The lowest average weekly wages were reported in Cameron County, Texas ($527), followed by the counties of Hidalgo, Texas ($542), Yakima, Wash. ($570), Webb, Texas ($571), and Horry, S.C. ($578).
Over the year, the national average weekly wage rose by 4.2 percent. Among the largest counties, Rockingham, N.H., led the nation in average weekly wage growth with an increase of 18.0 percent from the fourth quarter of 2005. Sedgwick, Kan., and Trumbull, Ohio, were second in wage growth (14.0 percent each), followed by the counties of Travis, Texas (10.9 percent) and Waukesha, Wis. (10.4 percent).
Eight counties experienced over-the-year declines in average weekly wages. New Castle, Del., had the largest decrease (-5.7 percent), followed by the counties of Elkhart, Ind. (-5.3 percent), Orleans, La. (-4.4 percent), York, Pa. (-4.3 percent), and Harrison, Miss. (-2.4 percent).
Ten Largest U.S. Counties
Each of the 10 largest counties (based on 2005 annual average employment levels) reported increases in employment from December 2005 to December 2006. Harris, Texas, experienced the largest percent increase in employment among the largest counties (4.0 percent). Within Harris County, employment rose in every industry group. The largest percent gains were in natural resources and mining (12.2 percent), followed by construction (6.8 percent). Maricopa, Ariz., had the next largest percent increase in employment (3.8 percent),followed by King, Wash. (3.0 percent). The smallest percent increases in employment occurred in Los Angeles, Calif. (0.5 percent), Orange, Calif. (0.7 percent), and San Diego, Calif. (0.8 percent).
Each of the 10 largest U.S. counties saw over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Miami-Dade, Fla., had the fastest growth in wages among the 10 largest counties with a gain of 8.1 percent. Within Miami-Dade County, average weekly wages increased the most in professional and business services (18.7 percent), followed by financial activities (9.0 percent). Harris, Texas, was second in wage growth with a gain of 7.2 percent, followed by King, Wash. (5.8 percent). The smallest wage gains among the 10 largest counties occurred in Orange, Calif. (2.7 percent), followed by Dallas, Texas (3.3 percent) and San Diego, Calif. (3.6 percent).
