For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, June 4, 2025 USDL-25-0925
Technical information: (202) 691-6567 * QCEWInfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cew
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES - FOURTH QUARTER 2024
From December 2023 to December 2024, employment increased in 256 of the 369 largest U.S. counties,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In December 2024, national employment increased
to 156.2 million, a 0.8-percent increase over the year, as measured by the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in
employment, with a gain of 5.3 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for December
2024, and average weekly wage data are presented for fourth quarter 2024.
Among the 369 largest counties, 357 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the
fourth quarter of 2024, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,507, a 5.0-percent
increase over the year. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest fourth quarter over-the-year wage gain at
15.0 percent. (See table 1.)
Large County Employment in December 2024
Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+5.3 percent). Within
Kings, the largest employment increase occurred in education and health services, with a gain of
44,831 (+11.7 percent).
Buncombe, NC, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-5.0 percent). Within
Buncombe, the largest employment decrease occurred in leisure and hospitality, with a loss of 3,942
(-17.7 percent).
Large County Average Weekly Wage in Fourth Quarter 2024
Santa Clara, CA, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages (+15.0
percent). Within Santa Clara, an average weekly wage gain of $784 (+13.7 percent) in professional
and business services made the largest contribution to the county's increase in average weekly
wages.
Lake, IL, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages (-7.7 percent).
Within Lake, an average weekly wage loss of $537 (-25.4 percent) in trade, transportation, and
utilities made the largest contribution to the county's decrease in average weekly wages.
Ten Largest Counties
Eight of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage increases in employment. In December
2024, Miami-Dade, FL, had the largest over-the-year employment percentage gain (+1.1 percent).
Within Miami-Dade, education and health services had the largest employment increase, with a gain of
3,808 (+1.8 percent). (See table 2.)
All of the 10 largest counties had over-the-year percentage increases in average weekly wages. In
the fourth quarter of 2024, King, WA, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage gain in
average weekly wages (+13.2 percent). Within King, professional and business services had the
largest impact, with an average weekly wage increase of $815 (+23.6 percent).
For More Information
The tables included in this release contain data for the nation and for the 369 U.S. counties with
annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023. December 2024 employment and fourth
quarter 2024 average weekly wages for all states are provided in table 3 of this release.
Over-the-year changes of employment and wages presented in this news release are adjusted and may
differ from unadjusted data used in BLS data tools and interactive charts. More information is
available in the QCEW Technical Note at www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm.
QCEW reporting rates tables are available at www.bls.gov/cew/reporting-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.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access
telecommunications relay services.
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The County Employment and Wages news release for first quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
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QCEW Moves to One Data Release Beginning with Fourth Quarter 2024 Publication
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) is streamlining its release process.
Beginning with this release, QCEW will publish the County Employment and Wages news release
on the same date as the QCEW full data update. Revised news release dates are available at
www.bls.gov/cew/notices/2025/qcew-moves-to-one-data-release-beginning-with-fourth-quarter
-2024-publication.htm.
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United States Department of Labor
