Employment rose in all three of the largest counties in Oklahoma from June 2022 to June 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Cleveland County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 5.4 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oklahoma, June 2023

County	Percent change, June 2023
Cleveland	5.4
Oklahoma	3.7
Tulsa	3.1

National employment increased 2.4 percent over the year, with 337 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+7.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.7 percent).

Among the three largest counties in Oklahoma, employment was highest in Oklahoma County (486,200) in June 2023. Within Oklahoma County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the three largest Oklahoma counties accounted for 56.6 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 counties in Oklahoma with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 74 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

All three large Oklahoma counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Two counties had rates of wage gains above the national rate of 3.2 percent: Tulsa (+4.5%) and Cleveland (+3.7%). Oklahoma County reported a 2.9% increase in wages.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oklahoma, second quarter 2023

County	Percent change, second quarter 2023
Tulsa	4.5
Cleveland	3.7
Oklahoma	2.9

Nationwide, wages increased by 3.2 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 332 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+17.2 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-13.2 percent).

Average weekly wages in the three largest counties in Oklahoma were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. Oklahoma County ($1,166, 195^th) and Tulsa County ($1,126, 225^th) ranked in the middle third among the 360 largest U.S. counties. The average weekly wage for Cleveland County ($946) ranked 347^th.  

Among the largest U.S. counties, 88 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,321). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 272 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($795).

All 74 smaller counties in Oklahoma—those with employment below 75,000— reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Dewey County reported the highest average weekly wage, $1,277. McIntosh County reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state at $697 per week.

When all 77 counties in Oklahoma were considered, 15 reported average weekly wages of $799 or less, 24 registered wages from $800 to $899, 25 had wages from $900 to $999, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.)