For release 10:00 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, February 24, 2021	USDL-21-0317

Technical Information:	(202) 691-6567  *  QCEWInfo@bls.gov  	*  www.bls.gov/cew
Media Contact:		(202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov

COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES – THIRD QUARTER 2020

From September 2019 to September 2020, employment decreased in 355 of the 357 largest U.S. 
counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In September 2020, national employment 
(as measured by the QCEW program) decreased to 138.5 million, a 6.8-percent decrease over the year. 
Maui + Kalawao, HI, had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment with a loss of 35.4 percent. 
Employment data in this release are presented for September 2020, and average weekly wage data are 
presented for third quarter 2020. Employment was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to 
contain it.

Among the 357 largest counties, 350 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the third 
quarter of 2020, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,173, a 7.4-percent increase over 
the year. San Mateo, CA, had the largest third quarter over-the-year wage gain at 23.2 percent. (See 
table 1.) Nationally, the increases in average weekly wages largely reflect substantial employment loss 
among lower-paid industries, as was the case in the second quarter. In the third quarter, employment 
declines occurring in some higher-paid industries also feature significant wage increases.

Large County Employment in September 2020

Maui + Kalawao, HI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-35.4 percent). 
Within Maui + Kalawao, the largest employment decrease occurred in leisure and hospitality, which lost 
16,951 jobs over the year (-66.8 percent).

Utah, UT, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment with a gain of 1.9 
percent. Within Utah, professional and business services had the largest employment increase with a 
gain of 3,334 jobs (+8.6 percent).

Large County Average Weekly Wage in Third Quarter 2020

San Mateo, CA, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages (+23.2 
percent). Within San Mateo, an average weekly wage gain of $1,096 (+17.6 percent) in information 
made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages.

Ector, TX, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages with a loss of 
11.0 percent. Within Ector, natural resources and mining had the largest impact, with an average weekly 
wage decrease of $209 (-11.4 percent) over the year.

Ten Largest Counties

All of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage decreases in employment. In September 
2020, New York, NY, had the largest over-the-year employment percentage loss (-15.9 percent). Within 
New York, leisure and hospitality had the largest employment decrease with a loss of 182,490 jobs 
(-58.8 percent). (See table 2.)

All of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage increases in average weekly wages. In third 
quarter 2020, King, WA, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage gain in average weekly wages 
(+14.3 percent). Within King, information had the largest impact, with an average weekly wage increase 
of $895 (+16.6 percent) over the year.

For More Information

The tables included in this release contain data for the nation and for the 357 U.S. counties with annual 
average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2019. September 2020 employment and third quarter 
2020 average weekly wages for all states are provided in table 3 of this release.

QCEW response rate tables are available at www.bls.gov/cew/response-rates/.

The most current news release on quarterly measures of gross job flows is available from QCEW 
Business Employment Dynamics at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewbd.pdf.

Several BLS regional offices issue QCEW news releases targeted to local data users. Links to these 
releases are available at www.bls.gov/cew/regional-resources.htm.

QCEW data are available in the Census Business Builder suite of web tools assisting business owners 
and regional analysts in data-driven decision making at www.census.gov/data/data-tools/cbb.html. 

The QCEW news release schedule is available at www.bls.gov/cew/release-calendar.htm.

____________
The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2020 is scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). 

The County Employment and Wages news release for fourth quarter 2020 is scheduled to be 
released on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).