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Monday, June 24, 2024
Employment rose in Delaware’s two large counties from December 2022 to December 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 Sussex County had the larger over-the-year increase in employment at 3.3 percent. Employment also increased in New Castle County by 1.8 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)
National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).
Between the two large counties in Delaware, employment was higher in New Castle County (304,400) in December 2023. Within New Castle County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the two large Delaware counties accounted for 83.2 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for Kent County, the one county in Delaware with employment below 75,000. Kent County had an average weekly wage of $1,118, below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)
Large county wage changesThe two large Delaware counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Sussex County wages increased 2.0 percent, and New Castle County wages increased 1.9 percent.
Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).
Large county average weekly wagesWeekly wages in New Castle County ($1,505) were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. New Castle ranked 68th among the 360 largest counties. Average weekly wages in Sussex County ($1,081) ranked 324th in the nation. (See map 1.)
Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).
Additional statistics and other informationQCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.
Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.
Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.
The County Employment and Wages release for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
Area | Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands) |
Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2023 (thousands) |
Percent change, December 2022–23 (2) |
National ranking by percent change (3) |
Fourth quarter 2023 ($) |
National ranking by level (3) |
Percent change, fourth quarter 2022–23 (2) |
National ranking by percent change (3) |
||
United States (4) |
12,090.1 | 154,848.1 | 1.5 | -- | 1,435 | -- | 3.6 | -- |
Delaware |
43.2 | 472.9 | 1.3 | -- | 1,373 | 15 | 2.2 | 47 |
New Castle |
26.3 | 304.4 | 1.8 | 122 | 1,505 | 68 | 1.9 | 306 |
Sussex |
10.3 | 89.3 | 3.3 | 19 | 1,075 | 324 | 2.0 | 302 |
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 December 2023 | Average weekly wage ($) (1) |
---|---|---|---|
United States (2) |
12,090,132 | 154,848,113 | 1,435 |
Delaware |
43,153 | 472,857 | 1,373 |
Kent |
5,503 | 71,064 | 1,118 |
New Castle |
26,270 | 304,383 | 1,505 |
Sussex |
10,328 | 89,250 | 1,075 |
Footnotes: |
|||
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
State | Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands) |
Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2023 (thousands) |
Percent change, December 2022–23 |
Fourth quarter 2023 ($) |
National ranking by level |
Percent change, fourth quarter 2022–23 |
National ranking by percent change |
||
United States (2) |
12,090.1 | 154,848.1 | 1.5 | 1,435 | -- | 3.6 | -- |
Alabama |
159.1 | 2,101.1 | 2.0 | 1,207 | 35 | 4.2 | 15 |
Alaska |
25.2 | 311.6 | 2.4 | 1,372 | 16 | 5.5 | 2 |
Arizona |
226.4 | 3,231.4 | 2.2 | 1,322 | 21 | 3.8 | 21 |
Arkansas |
103.2 | 1,294.0 | 1.4 | 1,089 | 50 | 2.1 | 49 |
California |
1,792.2 | 18,111.4 | 0.2 | 1,759 | 4 | 4.8 | 9 |
Colorado |
263.2 | 2,930.1 | 2.5 | 1,516 | 9 | 3.0 | 38 |
Connecticut |
151.0 | 1,690.0 | 1.3 | 1,632 | 6 | 2.4 | 46 |
Delaware |
43.2 | 472.9 | 1.3 | 1,373 | 15 | 2.2 | 47 |
District of Columbia |
52.6 | 759.9 | 0.7 | 2,385 | 1 | 4.1 | 16 |
Florida |
904.4 | 9,870.1 | 2.5 | 1,328 | 20 | 3.4 | 32 |
Georgia |
391.7 | 4,866.4 | 1.3 | 1,331 | 19 | 3.5 | 30 |
Hawaii |
58.3 | 643.3 | 0.8 | 1,288 | 24 | 5.0 | 7 |
Idaho |
96.3 | 854.9 | 3.5 | 1,137 | 46 | 1.9 | 50 |
Illinois |
410.6 | 6,051.9 | 0.8 | 1,479 | 12 | 3.4 | 32 |
Indiana |
191.4 | 3,187.1 | 0.9 | 1,171 | 41 | 3.6 | 26 |
Iowa |
110.7 | 1,564.0 | 1.0 | 1,199 | 36 | 4.0 | 18 |
Kansas |
100.1 | 1,431.8 | 1.1 | 1,167 | 42 | 3.7 | 25 |
Kentucky |
154.0 | 2,004.4 | 1.8 | 1,146 | 45 | 4.1 | 16 |
Louisiana |
154.2 | 1,905.4 | 0.8 | 1,193 | 37 | 5.3 | 5 |
Maine |
64.8 | 636.8 | 1.4 | 1,209 | 34 | 3.8 | 21 |
Maryland |
193.8 | 2,730.4 | 2.3 | 1,509 | 10 | 3.1 | 36 |
Massachusetts |
292.9 | 3,655.4 | 0.8 | 1,805 | 2 | 0.7 | 51 |
Michigan |
330.9 | 4,407.8 | 1.2 | 1,316 | 22 | 3.3 | 34 |
Minnesota |
209.2 | 2,909.9 | 1.2 | 1,400 | 14 | 3.1 | 36 |
Mississippi |
89.1 | 1,170.9 | 0.7 | 983 | 51 | 3.8 | 21 |
Missouri |
253.9 | 2,906.3 | 1.6 | 1,222 | 33 | 4.3 | 14 |
Montana |
68.2 | 510.0 | 1.8 | 1,178 | 40 | 5.4 | 3 |
Nebraska |
76.8 | 1,018.5 | 2.0 | 1,187 | 39 | 2.9 | 40 |
Nevada |
108.5 | 1,556.7 | 3.6 | 1,271 | 28 | 2.2 | 47 |
New Hampshire |
67.1 | 689.2 | 1.4 | 1,527 | 8 | 2.8 | 41 |
New Jersey |
333.8 | 4,293.1 | 1.3 | 1,574 | 7 | 2.6 | 44 |
New Mexico |
68.6 | 868.3 | 2.3 | 1,165 | 43 | 4.9 | 8 |
New York |
699.7 | 9,627.1 | 1.7 | 1,783 | 3 | 2.8 | 41 |
North Carolina |
383.8 | 4,917.9 | 2.5 | 1,280 | 27 | 3.6 | 26 |
North Dakota |
36.1 | 427.0 | 2.7 | 1,267 | 29 | 5.2 | 6 |
Ohio |
333.9 | 5,514.5 | 1.1 | 1,245 | 31 | 3.6 | 26 |
Oklahoma |
132.6 | 1,697.1 | 1.9 | 1,123 | 49 | 4.7 | 11 |
Oregon |
206.1 | 1,985.5 | 1.0 | 1,338 | 18 | 2.8 | 41 |
Pennsylvania |
392.4 | 6,023.4 | 1.2 | 1,360 | 17 | 3.0 | 38 |
Rhode Island |
48.3 | 492.3 | 1.3 | 1,302 | 23 | 3.3 | 34 |
South Carolina |
180.8 | 2,278.0 | 2.6 | 1,153 | 44 | 3.8 | 21 |
South Dakota |
40.0 | 456.0 | 2.5 | 1,136 | 47 | 3.6 | 26 |
Tennessee |
225.9 | 3,276.9 | 1.6 | 1,285 | 25 | 2.5 | 45 |
Texas |
835.1 | 13,905.4 | 2.3 | 1,427 | 13 | 4.0 | 18 |
Utah |
139.0 | 1,713.5 | 2.1 | 1,285 | 25 | 4.5 | 13 |
Vermont |
32.6 | 310.3 | 1.5 | 1,250 | 30 | 3.5 | 30 |
Virginia |
316.7 | 4,089.8 | 1.7 | 1,482 | 11 | 4.7 | 11 |
Washington |
243.0 | 3,590.9 | 1.6 | 1,742 | 5 | 6.7 | 1 |
West Virginia |
59.9 | 693.5 | 1.2 | 1,126 | 48 | 5.4 | 3 |
Wisconsin |
208.0 | 2,936.6 | 1.0 | 1,233 | 32 | 3.9 | 20 |
Wyoming |
30.8 | 277.4 | 1.5 | 1,191 | 38 | 4.8 | 9 |
Puerto Rico |
54.4 | 975.7 | 0.0 | 688 | (3) | 3.3 | (3) |
Virgin Islands |
3.8 | 36.2 | 1.6 | 1,024 | (3) | 0.7 | (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: Monday, June 24, 2024