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22-1886-PHI
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Employment rose in all 19 large counties in Pennsylvania from March 2021 to March 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2021.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that Philadelphia County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 6.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
National employment increased 5.0 percent over the year, with 349 of the 355 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Clark, NV, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 12.5 percent. Jefferson, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.8 percent.
Among the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, employment was highest in Philadelphia County (676,100) in March 2022. Within Philadelphia County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 19 largest Pennsylvania counties accounted for 76.2 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 355 largest counties made up 73 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 $1,374 in the first quarter of 2022. (See table 2.)
Large county wage changesAll 19 large Pennsylvania counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022. (See chart 2.) Nine counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 6.7 percent. Bucks County had the largest gain (+8.2 percent), followed by York County (+8.1 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Pennsylvania’s other 17 large counties ranged from 1.7 percent to 7.7 percent.
Among the 355 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Peoria, IL, had the largest percentage wage increase (+25.8 percent). San Francisco, CA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-9.1 percent).
Large county average weekly wagesWeekly wages in 6 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania were above the national average of $1,374 in the first quarter of 2022. Average weekly wages exceeded $1,700 in two counties: Montgomery ($1,777, 24th), and Chester ($1,717, 31st).
Among the largest U.S. counties, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2022. New York, NY, had the highest average weekly wage at $4,064. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. At $736 a week, Cameron, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.
Average weekly wages in Pennsylvania’s smaller countiesAmong 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 ($682) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.
When all 67 counties in Pennsylvania were considered, 13 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 24 registered wages from $850 to $949, 10 had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See chart 3.)
Additional statistics and other informationQCEW 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 second quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for second quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
County Changes for the 2022 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2021 are included in this release and will be included in future 2022 releases. Nationally, twelve counties have been added to the publication tables. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.
Industry Changes to QCEW Data
Beginning with the full release of first quarter 2022 data on September 7, 2022, the QCEW program will use the 2022 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the basis for the publication of economic data by industry. For information on the use of the 2022 version of NAICS in QCEW, please see www.bls.gov/cew/classifications/industry/naics-2022.htm.
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; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
Area | Establishments, first quarter (thousands) | Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 2022 (thousands) | Percent change, March 2021–22 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | First quarter 2022 | National ranking by level (3) | Percent change, first quarter 2021–22 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | ||
United States (4) | 11,299.0 | 147,648.4 | 5.0 | -- | $1,374 | -- | 6.7 | -- |
Pennsylvania | 384.0 | 5,778.2 | 4.3 | -- | 1,309 | 16 | 6.9 | 35 |
Allegheny | 36.8 | 650.4 | 2.6 | 267 | 1,436 | 65 | 5.2 | 255 |
Berks | 8.9 | 166.8 | 2.8 | 254 | 1,117 | 213 | 6.7 | 189 |
Bucks | 21.1 | 260.6 | 4.4 | 139 | 1,192 | 160 | 8.2 | 104 |
Butler | 5.2 | 83.7 | 2.2 | 294 | 1,132 | 196 | 6.5 | 202 |
Chester | 16.4 | 243.8 | 3.4 | 210 | 1,717 | 31 | 4.1 | 294 |
Cumberland | 6.9 | 134.0 | 2.5 | 276 | 1,123 | 209 | 5.5 | 242 |
Dauphin | 7.6 | 178.6 | 2.9 | 243 | 1,249 | 133 | 5.7 | 233 |
Delaware | 14.5 | 216.2 | 3.9 | 174 | 1,414 | 73 | 7.3 | 155 |
Erie | 6.9 | 115.3 | 2.9 | 243 | 916 | 336 | 5.7 | 233 |
Lackawanna | 5.6 | 94.0 | 4.1 | 161 | 928 | 333 | 4.4 | 284 |
Lancaster | 14.4 | 243.6 | 4.0 | 168 | 1,049 | 260 | 7.7 | 126 |
Lehigh | 9.1 | 194.0 | 4.2 | 148 | 1,213 | 148 | 7.7 | 126 |
Luzerne | 7.5 | 140.9 | 5.3 | 96 | 966 | 320 | 3.8 | 297 |
Montgomery | 29.0 | 496.9 | 3.2 | 218 | 1,777 | 24 | 5.5 | 242 |
Northampton | 7.0 | 117.6 | 4.1 | 161 | 1,067 | 246 | 6.6 | 197 |
Philadelphia | 35.4 | 676.1 | 6.5 | 41 | 1,507 | 54 | 7.0 | 167 |
Washington | 5.7 | 83.4 | 3.8 | 181 | 1,495 | 57 | 1.7 | 342 |
Westmoreland | 9.2 | 127.4 | 2.9 | 243 | 992 | 307 | 7.1 | 163 |
York | 9.4 | 178.0 | 4.1 | 161 | 1,083 | 234 | 8.1 | 108 |
Footnotes: | ||||||||
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
Area | Establishments | Employment March 2022 | Average weekly wage (1) |
---|---|---|---|
United States (2) | 11,299,030 | 147,648,359 | $1,374 |
Pennsylvania | 384,014 | 5,778,217 | 1,309 |
Adams | 2,187 | 33,237 | 915 |
Allegheny | 36,760 | 650,370 | 1,436 |
Armstrong | 1,489 | 15,404 | 871 |
Beaver | 3,725 | 49,408 | 1,159 |
Bedford | 1,223 | 15,918 | 823 |
Berks | 8,940 | 166,774 | 1,117 |
Blair | 3,518 | 56,308 | 892 |
Bradford | 1,593 | 21,492 | 1,061 |
Bucks | 21,127 | 260,643 | 1,192 |
Butler | 5,228 | 83,741 | 1,132 |
Cambria | 3,375 | 46,861 | 821 |
Cameron | 157 | 1,655 | 949 |
Carbon | 1,294 | 15,170 | 780 |
Centre | 3,658 | 63,895 | 1,107 |
Chester | 16,382 | 243,844 | 1,717 |
Clarion | 1,098 | 12,040 | 776 |
Clearfield | 2,123 | 28,765 | 865 |
Clinton | 921 | 12,055 | 909 |
Columbia | 1,577 | 23,777 | 857 |
Crawford | 2,154 | 28,445 | 847 |
Cumberland | 6,924 | 133,970 | 1,123 |
Dauphin | 7,618 | 178,639 | 1,249 |
Delaware | 14,518 | 216,221 | 1,414 |
Elk | 991 | 13,469 | 907 |
Erie | 6,900 | 115,257 | 916 |
Fayette | 2,848 | 36,537 | 868 |
Forest | 154 | 1,785 | 987 |
Franklin | 3,404 | 58,977 | 930 |
Fulton | 312 | 4,962 | 936 |
Greene | 809 | 11,369 | 1,138 |
Huntingdon | 1,013 | 11,977 | 832 |
Indiana | 1,976 | 27,155 | 999 |
Jefferson | 1,220 | 14,584 | 828 |
Juniata | 567 | 6,577 | 744 |
Lackawanna | 5,611 | 93,986 | 928 |
Lancaster | 14,405 | 243,588 | 1,049 |
Lawrence | 2,038 | 26,587 | 893 |
Lebanon | 2,900 | 50,607 | 940 |
Lehigh | 9,051 | 193,957 | 1,213 |
Luzerne | 7,531 | 140,939 | 966 |
Lycoming | 3,110 | 47,833 | 973 |
Mckean | 1,120 | 13,771 | 850 |
Mercer | 2,908 | 42,654 | 952 |
Mifflin | 1,073 | 15,547 | 865 |
Monroe | 3,655 | 54,386 | 965 |
Montgomery | 28,953 | 496,854 | 1,777 |
Montour | 495 | 16,208 | 1,475 |
Northampton | 7,034 | 117,628 | 1,067 |
Northumberland | 1,872 | 25,879 | 916 |
Perry | 912 | 7,738 | 682 |
Philadelphia | 35,417 | 676,103 | 1,507 |
Pike | 1,121 | 11,010 | 757 |
Potter | 472 | 4,971 | 872 |
Schuylkill | 3,055 | 48,311 | 938 |
Snyder | 988 | 15,377 | 835 |
Somerset | 1,833 | 23,347 | 847 |
Sullivan | 195 | 1,244 | 852 |
Susquehanna | 984 | 8,781 | 955 |
Tioga | 1,043 | 12,432 | 890 |
Union | 1,024 | 16,769 | 967 |
Venango | 1,273 | 16,489 | 835 |
Warren | 994 | 13,024 | 869 |
Washington | 5,698 | 83,402 | 1,495 |
Wayne | 1,431 | 14,383 | 893 |
Westmoreland | 9,242 | 127,375 | 992 |
Wyoming | 719 | 8,963 | 1,082 |
York | 9,380 | 178,007 | 1,083 |
Footnotes: | |||
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
State | Establishments, first quarter (thousands) | Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 2022 (thousands) | Percent change, March 2021–22 | First quarter 2022 | National ranking by level | Percent change, first quarter 2021–22 | National ranking by percent change | ||
United States (2) | 11,299.0 | 147,648.4 | 5.0 | $1,374 | -- | 6.7 | -- |
Alabama | 143.7 | 1,990.4 | 2.5 | 1,072 | 39 | 8.2 | 21 |
Alaska | 24.2 | 303.9 | 2.8 | 1,178 | 25 | 4.9 | 45 |
Arizona | 195.8 | 3,048.2 | 5.0 | 1,234 | 21 | 7.5 | 29 |
Arkansas | 98.3 | 1,232.7 | 3.1 | 1,060 | 40 | 10.9 | 2 |
California | 1,667.6 | 17,720.8 | 7.7 | 1,644 | 5 | 1.0 | 51 |
Colorado | 238.0 | 2,767.9 | 5.1 | 1,455 | 9 | 8.8 | 11 |
Connecticut | 135.7 | 1,618.6 | 4.3 | 1,716 | 4 | 9.2 | 6 |
Delaware | 38.1 | 447.8 | 3.9 | 1,362 | 14 | 7.5 | 29 |
District of Columbia | 46.9 | 749.1 | 5.8 | 2,221 | 1 | 2.6 | 49 |
Florida | 844.0 | 9,249.2 | 6.1 | 1,222 | 23 | 10.8 | 3 |
Georgia | 359.6 | 4,615.2 | 5.0 | 1,301 | 17 | 8.8 | 11 |
Hawaii | 50.4 | 612.1 | 7.9 | 1,135 | 30 | 4.2 | 47 |
Idaho | 83.6 | 806.4 | 4.7 | 982 | 49 | 8.5 | 18 |
Illinois | 403.8 | 5,808.8 | 4.5 | 1,487 | 8 | 7.3 | 33 |
Indiana | 183.0 | 3,071.1 | 3.7 | 1,127 | 32 | 9.8 | 5 |
Iowa | 108.2 | 1,511.6 | 2.5 | 1,080 | 36 | 7.6 | 27 |
Kansas | 93.1 | 1,369.8 | 2.5 | 1,073 | 38 | 9.0 | 10 |
Kentucky | 137.5 | 1,911.5 | 4.0 | 1,038 | 44 | 7.6 | 27 |
Louisiana | 147.6 | 1,820.6 | 1.3 | 1,058 | 42 | 8.6 | 16 |
Maine | 60.4 | 604.1 | 2.8 | 1,103 | 35 | 10.3 | 4 |
Maryland | 179.9 | 2,623.1 | 3.9 | 1,410 | 10 | 2.0 | 50 |
Massachusetts | 286.6 | 3,516.0 | 5.3 | 1,827 | 3 | 5.9 | 43 |
Michigan | 282.2 | 4,212.5 | 4.6 | 1,225 | 22 | 6.2 | 41 |
Minnesota | 194.1 | 2,772.6 | 2.7 | 1,374 | 11 | 6.8 | 37 |
Mississippi | 77.9 | 1,134.2 | 2.9 | 879 | 51 | 8.5 | 18 |
Missouri | 227.1 | 2,788.2 | 3.0 | 1,128 | 31 | 7.0 | 34 |
Montana | 57.5 | 479.9 | 3.1 | 991 | 48 | 8.3 | 20 |
Nebraska | 78.7 | 965.4 | 1.5 | 1,079 | 37 | 9.2 | 6 |
Nevada | 102.7 | 1,441.3 | 11.6 | 1,164 | 27 | 8.0 | 23 |
New Hampshire | 61.1 | 659.9 | 4.3 | 1,361 | 15 | 7.8 | 25 |
New Jersey | 317.9 | 4,085.1 | 7.2 | 1,606 | 6 | 4.6 | 46 |
New Mexico | 68.0 | 817.4 | 5.1 | 1,018 | 45 | 6.5 | 40 |
New York | 681.3 | 9,107.2 | 6.0 | 1,972 | 2 | 5.6 | 44 |
North Carolina | 335.8 | 4,638.3 | 4.8 | 1,241 | 20 | 9.2 | 6 |
North Dakota | 33.3 | 400.5 | 2.7 | 1,106 | 34 | 6.9 | 35 |
Ohio | 320.5 | 5,299.0 | 3.1 | 1,179 | 24 | 7.5 | 29 |
Oklahoma | 120.7 | 1,601.8 | 2.9 | 1,012 | 46 | 8.0 | 23 |
Oregon | 175.1 | 1,921.9 | 4.0 | 1,259 | 18 | 7.4 | 32 |
Pennsylvania | 384.0 | 5,778.2 | 4.3 | 1,309 | 16 | 6.9 | 35 |
Rhode Island | 45.0 | 469.3 | 4.7 | 1,249 | 19 | 6.8 | 37 |
South Carolina | 164.1 | 2,142.9 | 3.9 | 1,043 | 43 | 9.2 | 6 |
South Dakota | 37.8 | 432.0 | 3.5 | 1,012 | 46 | 8.6 | 16 |
Tennessee | 198.1 | 3,104.1 | 4.6 | 1,172 | 26 | 8.8 | 11 |
Texas | 788.4 | 12,985.4 | 6.1 | 1,369 | 12 | 8.7 | 14 |
Utah | 126.5 | 1,625.6 | 4.5 | 1,152 | 28 | 8.2 | 21 |
Vermont | 29.3 | 295.8 | 3.9 | 1,107 | 33 | 7.7 | 26 |
Virginia | 310.8 | 3,889.4 | 3.1 | 1,366 | 13 | 6.6 | 39 |
Washington | 277.3 | 3,453.4 | 6.0 | 1,596 | 7 | 3.8 | 48 |
West Virginia | 55.2 | 668.1 | 2.9 | 968 | 50 | 6.1 | 42 |
Wisconsin | 193.9 | 2,816.5 | 2.9 | 1,137 | 29 | 8.7 | 14 |
Wyoming | 28.9 | 263.6 | 2.6 | 1,059 | 41 | 11.2 | 1 |
Puerto Rico | 48.7 | 917.1 | 6.8 | 579 | (3) | 2.8 | (3) |
Virgin Islands | 3.5 | 34.8 | -0.3 | 947 | (3) | -3.7 | (3) |
Footnotes: | |||||||
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: Wednesday, September 14, 2022