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News Release Information

24-565-PHI
Monday, March 18, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in Virginia — Third Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 11 of the 12 largest counties in Virginia from September 2022 to September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that Prince William County (+2.6 percent), Loudoun County (+2.5 percent), and Chesterfield County (+2.4 percent) had the largest over-the-year increases in employment. (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 12 largest counties in Virginia, employment was highest in Fairfax County (627,700) in September 2023. Within Fairfax County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 12 largest Virginia counties accounted for 55.0 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 121 counties in Virginia with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 115 of the 121 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Among the 12 large counties in Virginia, 7 reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Norfolk City had the largest gain (+2.3 percent), followed by Richmond City (+1.8 percent) and Virginia Beach City (+1.5 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among Virginia’s other 9 large counties ranged from 1.0 percent to -2.0 percent.

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 6 of the 12 largest counties in Virginia were above the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in three of these counties ranked among the top 25 nationwide: Arlington ($2,119, 8th), Fairfax ($1,928, 10th), and Alexandria City ($1,641, 24th).

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

Among the 121 smaller counties in Virginia—those with employment below 75,000—6 counties reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Goochland County ($1,959) reported the highest average weekly wage. Grayson County ($732) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 133 counties in Virginia were considered, 48 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 47 registered wages from $900 to $1,099, 24 had wages from $1,100 to $1,299, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,300 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 Virginia, third quarter 2023

U.S. average = $1,334

 
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 12 largest counties in Virginia, 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--

Virginia

315.84,053.61.8--1,383100.519

Arlington

9.7178.81.41552,11980.2153

Chesterfield

10.3141.92.4591,1252420.0170

Fairfax

38.8627.70.42741,92810-2.0307

Henrico

12.6185.20.52561,251147-0.1179

Loudoun

14.4188.02.5541,47648-1.2267

Prince William

10.5140.02.6491,1791970.885

Alexandria City

6.480.3-0.43291,64124-1.7292

Chesapeake City

6.7103.81.11991,0643010.4129

Newport News City

4.5101.10.52561,2661331.075

Norfolk City

6.4142.31.51401,351862.319

Richmond City

8.9160.81.81081,493441.834

Virginia Beach City

13.5177.81.11991,0493121.546

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

United States (2)

12,026,378153,772,8111,334

Virginia

315,7894,053,5891,383

Accomack

1,42012,788970

Albemarle

4,23263,6621,333

Alleghany

5203,335831

Amelia

4202,539891

Amherst

8127,848865

Appomattox

5573,580770

Arlington

9,654178,8132,119

Augusta

2,04429,5731,114

Bath

3132,102949

Bedford

2,33418,702910

Bland

2001,9171,140

Botetourt

1,01111,5281,027

Brunswick

6083,247937

Buchanan

6105,8831,161

Buckingham

5513,029929

Campbell

1,91118,2971,042

Caroline

8226,254959

Carroll

6925,724759

Charles City

2421,7611,049

Charlotte

7102,771872

Chesterfield

10,290141,8801,125

Clarke

5243,8741,001

Craig

148807886

Culpeper

1,59016,2511,058

Cumberland

2721,324823

Dickenson

3433,3911,002

Dinwiddie

5869,5821,305

Essex

4253,634815

Fairfax

38,843627,7331,928

Fauquier

2,72722,8731,196

Floyd

5343,596746

Fluvanna

6455,0981,104

Franklin

1,61915,526855

Frederick

2,09538,8071,079

Giles

4457,2761,287

Gloucester

1,1869,914901

Goochland

1,13718,6761,959

Grayson

3653,460732

Greene

5524,012806

Greensville

3213,8501,103

Halifax

1,01612,104919

Hanover

4,33058,8631,023

Henrico

12,586185,2041,251

Henry

1,68315,705850

Highland

172606803

Isle of Wight

93010,216978

James City

2,19129,677973

King and Queen

2391,063941

King George

69913,3411,856

King William

4954,0931,064

Lancaster

5594,855984

Lee

5154,051826

Loudoun

14,434187,9841,476

Louisa

1,09010,2621,090

Lunenburg

3692,346890

Madison

5203,094895

Mathews

2591,576777

Mecklenburg

1,09211,655893

Middlesex

4383,334856

Montgomery

2,61343,8801,189

Nelson

5823,941874

New Kent

5805,892917

Northampton

5924,744769

Northumberland

3982,435918

Nottoway

4795,5041,040

Orange

1,0089,718934

Page

6215,903793

Patrick

4944,175748

Pittsylvania

1,42113,300896

Powhatan

8758,018979

Prince Edward

7288,751930

Prince George

67114,8721,253

Prince William

10,529140,0211,179

Pulaski

86314,705997

Rappahannock

3051,547894

Richmond

2762,768894

Roanoke

2,70337,6651,006

Rockbridge

5865,928803

Rockingham

2,01035,1221,048

Russell

5696,334875

Scott

4014,940825

Shenandoah

1,13713,580898

Smyth

82511,891889

Southampton

3583,820974

Spotsylvania

3,48836,958975

Stafford

3,20345,4461,273

Surry

1442,2681,620

Sussex

3353,3711,019

Tazewell

1,01613,704864

Warren

1,16913,797971

Washington

1,54920,012890

Westmoreland

4533,207821

Wise

80910,977901

Wythe

93211,884864

York

1,70521,828967

Alexandria City

6,39580,3361,641

Bristol City

62810,174858

Buena Vista City

1492,612885

Charlottesville City

2,53636,5921,299

Chesapeake City

6,709103,7871,064

Colonial Heights City

7519,507816

Covington City

2973,8151,062

Danville City

1,80624,259944

Emporia City

2783,269762

Fairfax City

1,78623,3711,297

Falls Church City

1,03712,1081,527

Franklin City

3163,849804

Fredericksburg City

1,73824,1801,160

Galax City

4125,837778

Hampton City

3,15749,6431,164

Harrisonburg City

1,76031,405965

Hopewell City

5487,4201,190

Lexington City

3075,4381,047

Lynchburg City

2,68248,3521,075

Manassas City

1,60524,5581,474

Manassas Park City

3444,2991,052

Martinsville City

9559,054811

Newport News City

4,468101,0731,266

Norfolk City

6,443142,3461,351

Norton City

2233,090869

Petersburg City

98711,879977

Poquoson City

2591,831827

Portsmouth City

1,88043,5441,370

Radford City

3626,5551,095

Richmond City

8,919160,8371,493

Roanoke City

3,53164,5601,137

Salem City

1,10020,3661,159

Staunton City

93911,487898

Suffolk City

2,18434,9691,160

Virginia Beach City

13,512177,8211,049

Waynesboro City

7689,397888

Williamsburg City

57912,1421,104

Winchester City

1,49624,7471,138

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)

12,026.4153,772.81.51,334--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: Monday, March 18, 2024