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News Release Information

22-136-PHI
Monday, January 24, 2022

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in Pennsylvania — Second Quarter 2021

Employment rose in all of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania from June 2020 to June 2021.

Employment rose in all of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania from June 2020 to June 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that Bucks County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 10.8 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 6.7 percent over the year, with 339 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Atlantic, NJ, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 36.8 percent. Calcasieu, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.9 percent.

Among the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, employment was highest in Allegheny County (652,800) in June 2021. Within Allegheny County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 19 largest Pennsylvania counties accounted for 76.5 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.2 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 48 counties in Pennsylvania with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 47 of the 48 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,241 in the second quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Of the 19 largest Pennsylvania counties, 16 reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) No county had a wage increase that was above the national rate of 4.5 percent. Lehigh County has the largest gain (+4.1 percent), followed by Allegheny County (+4.0 percent) and Berks County (+3.7 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among Pennsylvania’s other 16 large counties ranged from 3.0 percent to -3.0 percent.

Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 302 had over-the-year wage increases. San Francisco, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+29.7 percent). Atlantic, NJ, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 5 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania were above the national average of $1,241 in the second quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in two of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide: Chester ($1,541, 23rd) and Montgomery ($1,466, 31st).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 90 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2021. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,516. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 253 counties. At $728 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Pennsylvania’s smaller counties

Among the 48 smaller counties in Pennsylvania—those with employment below 75,000—Montour ($1,475) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Perry County ($712) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 67 counties in Pennsylvania were considered, 8 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 25 registered wages from $800 to $899, 14 had wages from $900 to $999, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher.

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for third quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, second quarter 2021
AreaEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
June 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2021
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

10,863.2144,044.86.7--$1,241--4.5--

Pennsylvania

370.95,674.76.9--1,193162.039

Allegheny

36.3652.83.82861,318644.0139

Berks

8.8164.46.21561,0781923.7155

Bucks

20.5256.310.8261,1211670.2299

Butler

5.284.02.63231,0751960.8281

Chester

16.0242.68.0781,541230.3296

Cumberland

6.7132.74.02731,1141712.3216

Dauphin

7.6180.27.9821,166137-0.7317

Delaware

14.3212.28.1741,252820.3296

Erie

6.8115.96.9112894327-3.0337

Lackawanna

5.591.66.31509263150.2299

Lancaster

14.1241.78.7541,0022611.9236

Lehigh

8.9190.38.0781,1751294.1135

Luzerne

7.5137.74.62379632983.0185

Montgomery

28.3492.58.3671,466311.1269

Northampton

6.9114.38.5611,0192411.5256

Philadelphia

34.8646.15.91671,36355-1.3323

Washington

5.683.04.52421,1511452.7197

Westmoreland

9.2128.65.12179523051.7248

York

9.2173.75.71741,0472221.8240

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Pennsylvania, second quarter 2021
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment June 2021Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

10,863,217144,044,799$1,241

Pennsylvania

370,9225,674,6501,193

Adams

2,15533,329906

Allegheny

36,315652,7921,318

Armstrong

1,49016,005864

Beaver

3,69552,8011,144

Bedford

1,20315,356785

Berks

8,823164,3931,078

Blair

3,48057,258903

Bradford

1,58121,400971

Bucks

20,522256,3271,121

Butler

5,18283,9761,075

Cambria

3,33846,883812

Cameron

1571,767914

Carbon

1,27415,258785

Centre

3,66266,7801,060

Chester

16,013242,6251,541

Clarion

1,07512,151792

Clearfield

2,10828,959835

Clinton

91412,294874

Columbia

1,56623,310858

Crawford

2,15928,614838

Cumberland

6,747132,7211,114

Dauphin

7,569180,2081,166

Delaware

14,284212,2011,252

Elk

98013,573846

Erie

6,836115,909894

Fayette

2,82037,074840

Forest

1561,932919

Franklin

3,39457,790931

Fulton

3164,704898

Greene

79811,4481,074

Huntingdon

1,00512,194821

Indiana

1,96326,950976

Jefferson

1,20314,531806

Juniata

5516,657756

Lackawanna

5,53391,584926

Lancaster

14,063241,6591,002

Lawrence

2,00326,995858

Lebanon

2,87450,030940

Lehigh

8,871190,2831,175

Luzerne

7,454137,704963

Lycoming

3,12447,978941

Mckean

1,12913,829836

Mercer

2,90342,729897

Mifflin

1,07815,546851

Monroe

3,59454,629937

Montgomery

28,290492,4921,466

Montour

48916,2101,475

Northampton

6,902114,3481,019

Northumberland

1,86626,625863

Perry

8997,806712

Philadelphia

34,820646,1211,363

Pike

1,09411,599746

Potter

4675,177885

Schuylkill

3,04947,777894

Snyder

97515,471759

Somerset

1,86022,924841

Sullivan

1981,387715

Susquehanna

9788,409864

Tioga

1,03512,456897

Union

1,01717,053976

Venango

1,24416,994859

Warren

1,00313,256882

Washington

5,55882,9711,151

Wayne

1,39214,985881

Westmoreland

9,168128,588952

Wyoming

7009,0401,044

York

9,245173,6771,047

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, second quarter 2021
StateEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
June 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2020–21
Second quarter
2021
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2020–21
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

10,863.2144,044.86.7$1,241--4.5--

Alabama

137.81,952.04.41,010354.815

Alaska

23.7315.56.71,18117-1.251

Arizona

180.22,857.85.31,154205.96

Arkansas

96.11,205.34.4974455.212

California

1,662.916,992.17.01,57937.55

Colorado

228.92,723.97.11,283104.419

Connecticut

130.11,604.17.91,41160.647

Delaware

35.1440.15.11,165191.741

District of Columbia

44.0724.63.32,09615.48

Florida

782.58,654.06.71,113247.73

Georgia

337.04,453.56.51,139225.96

Hawaii

48.7590.512.71,117230.746

Idaho

76.4801.87.3930505.310

Illinois

394.65,743.56.51,260113.525

Indiana

178.23,011.85.21,013345.48

Iowa

106.11,528.04.8999382.138

Kansas

90.51,356.04.0995412.730

Kentucky

132.41,851.25.6999382.928

Louisiana

142.71,806.65.41,005362.039

Maine

57.0623.08.71,005362.433

Maryland

175.62,599.76.81,31991.044

Massachusetts

277.43,497.010.11,59121.143

Michigan

270.24,175.68.41,143212.532

Minnesota

192.82,814.56.41,240133.326

Mississippi

75.71,107.14.1843513.822

Missouri

221.62,759.35.31,052323.623

Montana

55.1490.77.0959474.518

Nebraska

74.4976.64.8997403.921

Nevada

93.91,353.914.01,106255.310

New Hampshire

58.5657.48.71,345810.61

New Jersey

300.43,993.812.01,38770.845

New Mexico

63.0790.64.3987422.928

New York

667.98,885.49.21,54051.342

North Carolina

311.14,511.37.21,092275.114

North Dakota

32.6407.44.31,067290.647

Ohio

312.45,266.74.31,068283.623

Oklahoma

114.61,568.73.1963462.433

Oregon

169.21,899.65.61,196154.815

Pennsylvania

370.95,674.76.91,193162.039

Rhode Island

42.1472.210.01,16818-0.350

South Carolina

150.12,091.94.9977445.212

South Dakota

36.3442.36.4936492.631

Tennessee

182.33,012.45.91,094267.64

Texas

758.012,466.75.71,210144.717

Utah

119.91,586.07.61,060304.220

Vermont

27.8292.47.51,05331-0.249

Virginia

293.63,854.36.11,257123.227

Washington

263.63,376.75.71,54748.32

West Virginia

52.7663.84.8955482.237

Wisconsin

186.52,845.75.71,037332.335

Wyoming

28.2275.15.6987422.335

Puerto Rico

47.6867.28.6567(3)2.0(3)

Virgin Islands

3.535.70.0923(3)-8.4(3)

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Monday, January 24, 2022