Midland, Texas, has largest job gain, San Francisco largest wage gain, among largest U.S. counties

Employment increased in 298 of the 355 largest U.S. counties from March 2018 to March 2019. National employment increased 1.4 percent over the year. Midland, Texas, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+5.8 percent). Within Midland, the largest employment increase occurred in natural resources and mining, which gained 2,745 jobs over the year. Bay, Florida, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment, with a loss of 5.9 percent. Within Bay, education and health services had the largest employment decrease with a loss of 2,449 jobs.

San Francisco, California, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages (+10.2 percent). Within San Francisco, average weekly wages rose $1,391, or 77.5 percent, in trade, transportation, and utilities. Elkhart, Indiana, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages, with a loss of 7.6 percent. Within Elkhart, manufacturing had the largest impact, with an average weekly wage decrease of $137 (−12.7 percent) over the year.

These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program and are preliminary. Largest counties are ranked by December 2017 employment. To learn more, see "County Employment and Wages – First Quarter 2019."