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News Release Information

24-570-PHI
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in New Jersey — Third Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 14 of the 15 large counties in New Jersey from September 2022 to September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that Ocean County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.6 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hall, GA, had the largest increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent).

Among the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, employment was highest in Bergen County (440,800) in September 2023. Within Bergen County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 15 largest New Jersey counties accounted for 88.6 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the six counties in New Jersey with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all six small counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

In New Jersey, 13 of the 15 largest counties reported average weekly wage losses from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Monmouth County had the largest loss (-2.9 percent), followed by Union County (-2.7 percent). Over-the-year wage losses among New Jersey’s other 11 large counties ranged from -2.1 percent to -0.1 percent. Mercer County and Middlesex County were the only large counties to report wage gains.

Nationwide, wages increased by 0.1 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 169 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+7.7 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.0 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 8 of the 15 largest counties in New Jersey were above the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in four of these counties ranked among the top 25 nationwide: Somerset ($1,785, 12th), Morris ($1,736, 17th), Mercer ($1,646, 23rd), and Hudson ($1,634, 25th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 92 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2023. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,288). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($793).

Smaller county average weekly wages

All six small counties in New Jersey—those with employment below 75,000—reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Cape May County ($867) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 21 counties in New Jersey were considered, 6 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,100, 6 registered wages from $1,100 to $1,299, 4 had wages from $1,300 to $1,499, and 5 had average weekly wages of $1,500 or higher. (See map 1.)

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 for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

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.

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.

The County Employment and Wages release for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in New Jersey, third quarter 2023

U.S. Average = $1,334

 
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,026.4153,772.81.5--1,334--0.1--

New Jersey

326.84,256.91.9--1,4567-0.437

Atlantic

7.2127.71.61231,070294-0.7227

Bergen

36.2440.81.61231,42960-0.6217

Burlington

12.5209.31.41551,252146-2.1314

Camden

13.9206.62.2821,230160-0.1179

Essex

23.7345.62.6491,54432-2.0307

Gloucester

7.3124.72.5541,052310-0.9240

Hudson

18.9272.20.72391,63425-0.4197

Mercer

11.7263.91.21811,646233.18

Middlesex

25.4429.9-0.63351,453500.4129

Monmouth

22.1272.52.1871,223166-2.9338

Morris

18.2297.61.21811,73617-1.1259

Ocean

15.9189.33.6131,030318-1.2267

Passaic

15.0172.50.92161,149219-0.6217

Somerset

11.0192.01.41551,78512-0.3192

Union

16.6229.00.72391,42161-2.7332

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 New Jersey, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment September 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378153,772,8111,334

New Jersey

326,7584,256,9111,456

Atlantic

7,199127,7151,070

Bergen

36,242440,7541,429

Burlington

12,503209,2851,252

Camden

13,870206,6481,230

Cape May

4,03146,732867

Cumberland

3,68161,0471,038

Essex

23,673345,6021,544

Gloucester

7,329124,7101,052

Hudson

18,940272,2101,634

Hunterdon

4,12446,2031,317

Mercer

11,719263,9051,646

Middlesex

25,447429,9091,453

Monmouth

22,140272,5141,223

Morris

18,212297,6431,736

Ocean

15,914189,2501,030

Passaic

14,973172,5491,149

Salem

1,44722,8241,174

Somerset

10,996192,0071,785

Sussex

3,67138,4121,038

Union

16,602229,0161,421

Warren

2,84133,1171,151

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, third quarter 2023
StateEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23
Third quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,026.4153,772.81.5$1,334--0.1--

Alabama

157.72,079.61.81,121350.424

Alaska

25.4335.43.11,328151.82

Arizona

223.13,163.82.11,24820-0.233

Arkansas

103.11,284.31.41,036500.030

California

1,785.318,102.20.21,61340.812

Colorado

261.92,888.72.31,4318-0.540

Connecticut

150.01,679.01.41,4806-0.642

Delaware

42.3472.52.11,26918-1.651

District of Columbia

52.1758.70.82,15911.44

Florida

894.29,668.62.51,21825-0.131

Georgia

392.54,807.31.51,24919-0.233

Hawaii

57.4627.90.71,226231.18

Idaho

95.3852.72.11,068460.519

Illinois

411.36,044.10.81,34612-1.048

Indiana

192.33,175.61.01,11536-0.745

Iowa

110.51,559.71.01,11237-0.642

Kansas

99.71,419.71.31,087430.325

Kentucky

152.21,985.42.01,092421.011

Louisiana

155.41,886.60.51,107400.615

Maine

64.9649.11.51,129341.18

Maryland

190.12,689.70.81,42490.519

Massachusetts

295.83,653.50.51,6433-0.745

Michigan

325.54,422.21.91,22822-0.540

Minnesota

206.42,923.51.41,32914-1.350

Mississippi

88.31,163.10.992751-0.642

Missouri

250.42,894.11.51,152310.325

Montana

66.9513.21.51,072451.26

Nebraska

78.31,014.02.31,11138-0.437

Nevada

107.51,537.82.81,20127-0.336

New Hampshire

66.3687.61.41,35011-1.249

New Jersey

326.84,256.91.91,4567-0.437

New Mexico

67.9857.21.61,096411.18

New York

701.89,525.51.71,61050.228

North Carolina

375.64,835.12.01,222241.26

North Dakota

35.8428.31.91,205261.35

Ohio

344.45,488.11.31,18530-0.131

Oklahoma

131.11,684.92.11,052480.519

Oregon

203.42,001.81.01,301160.519

Pennsylvania

392.55,996.01.31,28317-0.947

Rhode Island

48.2495.11.61,234210.714

South Carolina

179.72,256.42.61,086440.615

South Dakota

39.8457.62.01,058470.615

Tennessee

221.23,216.10.41,199280.129

Texas

831.913,731.12.61,336130.325

Utah

137.21,706.12.31,195290.812

Vermont

32.4306.51.41,14132-0.233

Virginia

315.84,053.61.81,383100.519

Washington

242.63,618.11.31,68221.53

West Virginia

59.1695.31.81,044490.615

Wisconsin

206.22,938.61.01,13333-0.437

Wyoming

30.6285.22.11,111382.41

Puerto Rico

53.6940.21.6633(3)2.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.835.11.9953(3)-4.0(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: Tuesday, March 19, 2024