Employment rose in 16 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that Philadelphia County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.3 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Pennsylvania, March 2024

County	Percent change, March 2024
Philadelphia	2.3
Bucks	2.0
Dauphin	1.9
Allegheny	1.8
Washington	1.5
Lackawanna	1.4
Luzerne	1.1
Berks	1.0
Erie	1.0
Cumberland	0.9
Lancaster	0.8
Butler	0.6
York	0.6
Chester	0.5
Montgomery	0.2
Delaware	0.1
Northampton	0.0
Lehigh	-0.5
Westmoreland	-0.7

National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Among the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania, employment was highest in Philadelphia County (712,000) in March 2024. Within Philadelphia County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 19 largest Pennsylvania counties accounted for 75.8 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered 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 $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All 19 large Pennsylvania counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Cumberland County had the largest gain (+4.5 percent), followed by Northampton County and York County (+4.4 percent each), as well as Erie County (+4.3 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Pennsylvania’s other 15 large counties ranged from 3.5 percent to 0.8 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Pennsylvania, first quarter 2024

County	Percent change, first quarter 2024
Cumberland	4.5
Northampton	4.4
York	4.4
Erie	4.3
Bucks	3.5
Butler	3.5
Philadelphia	3.3
Lancaster	3.2
Montgomery	3.0
Chester	2.8
Lackawanna	2.7
Westmoreland	2.7
Allegheny	2.5
Luzerne	2.5
Delaware	2.3
Berks	2.0
Dauphin	1.1
Washington	1.1
Lehigh	0.8

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Weekly wages in 5 of the 19 largest counties in Pennsylvania were above the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in two of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide: Montgomery ($1,931, 28^th), and Chester ($1,864, 32^nd).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Among the 48 smaller counties in Pennsylvania—those with employment below 75,000—Montour ($1,674) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Sullivan County ($795) 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 $950, 21 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 13 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)