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News Release Information

24-570-PHI
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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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
Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 -- 1,334 -- 0.1 --

New Jersey

326.8 4,256.9 1.9 -- 1,456 7 -0.4 37

Atlantic

7.2 127.7 1.6 123 1,070 294 -0.7 227

Bergen

36.2 440.8 1.6 123 1,429 60 -0.6 217

Burlington

12.5 209.3 1.4 155 1,252 146 -2.1 314

Camden

13.9 206.6 2.2 82 1,230 160 -0.1 179

Essex

23.7 345.6 2.6 49 1,544 32 -2.0 307

Gloucester

7.3 124.7 2.5 54 1,052 310 -0.9 240

Hudson

18.9 272.2 0.7 239 1,634 25 -0.4 197

Mercer

11.7 263.9 1.2 181 1,646 23 3.1 8

Middlesex

25.4 429.9 -0.6 335 1,453 50 0.4 129

Monmouth

22.1 272.5 2.1 87 1,223 166 -2.9 338

Morris

18.2 297.6 1.2 181 1,736 17 -1.1 259

Ocean

15.9 189.3 3.6 13 1,030 318 -1.2 267

Passaic

15.0 172.5 0.9 216 1,149 219 -0.6 217

Somerset

11.0 192.0 1.4 155 1,785 12 -0.3 192

Union

16.6 229.0 0.7 239 1,421 61 -2.7 332

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
Area Establishments Employment September 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378 153,772,811 1,334

New Jersey

326,758 4,256,911 1,456

Atlantic

7,199 127,715 1,070

Bergen

36,242 440,754 1,429

Burlington

12,503 209,285 1,252

Camden

13,870 206,648 1,230

Cape May

4,031 46,732 867

Cumberland

3,681 61,047 1,038

Essex

23,673 345,602 1,544

Gloucester

7,329 124,710 1,052

Hudson

18,940 272,210 1,634

Hunterdon

4,124 46,203 1,317

Mercer

11,719 263,905 1,646

Middlesex

25,447 429,909 1,453

Monmouth

22,140 272,514 1,223

Morris

18,212 297,643 1,736

Ocean

15,914 189,250 1,030

Passaic

14,973 172,549 1,149

Salem

1,447 22,824 1,174

Somerset

10,996 192,007 1,785

Sussex

3,671 38,412 1,038

Union

16,602 229,016 1,421

Warren

2,841 33,117 1,151

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
State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,026.4 153,772.8 1.5 $1,334 -- 0.1 --

Alabama

157.7 2,079.6 1.8 1,121 35 0.4 24

Alaska

25.4 335.4 3.1 1,328 15 1.8 2

Arizona

223.1 3,163.8 2.1 1,248 20 -0.2 33

Arkansas

103.1 1,284.3 1.4 1,036 50 0.0 30

California

1,785.3 18,102.2 0.2 1,613 4 0.8 12

Colorado

261.9 2,888.7 2.3 1,431 8 -0.5 40

Connecticut

150.0 1,679.0 1.4 1,480 6 -0.6 42

Delaware

42.3 472.5 2.1 1,269 18 -1.6 51

District of Columbia

52.1 758.7 0.8 2,159 1 1.4 4

Florida

894.2 9,668.6 2.5 1,218 25 -0.1 31

Georgia

392.5 4,807.3 1.5 1,249 19 -0.2 33

Hawaii

57.4 627.9 0.7 1,226 23 1.1 8

Idaho

95.3 852.7 2.1 1,068 46 0.5 19

Illinois

411.3 6,044.1 0.8 1,346 12 -1.0 48

Indiana

192.3 3,175.6 1.0 1,115 36 -0.7 45

Iowa

110.5 1,559.7 1.0 1,112 37 -0.6 42

Kansas

99.7 1,419.7 1.3 1,087 43 0.3 25

Kentucky

152.2 1,985.4 2.0 1,092 42 1.0 11

Louisiana

155.4 1,886.6 0.5 1,107 40 0.6 15

Maine

64.9 649.1 1.5 1,129 34 1.1 8

Maryland

190.1 2,689.7 0.8 1,424 9 0.5 19

Massachusetts

295.8 3,653.5 0.5 1,643 3 -0.7 45

Michigan

325.5 4,422.2 1.9 1,228 22 -0.5 40

Minnesota

206.4 2,923.5 1.4 1,329 14 -1.3 50

Mississippi

88.3 1,163.1 0.9 927 51 -0.6 42

Missouri

250.4 2,894.1 1.5 1,152 31 0.3 25

Montana

66.9 513.2 1.5 1,072 45 1.2 6

Nebraska

78.3 1,014.0 2.3 1,111 38 -0.4 37

Nevada

107.5 1,537.8 2.8 1,201 27 -0.3 36

New Hampshire

66.3 687.6 1.4 1,350 11 -1.2 49

New Jersey

326.8 4,256.9 1.9 1,456 7 -0.4 37

New Mexico

67.9 857.2 1.6 1,096 41 1.1 8

New York

701.8 9,525.5 1.7 1,610 5 0.2 28

North Carolina

375.6 4,835.1 2.0 1,222 24 1.2 6

North Dakota

35.8 428.3 1.9 1,205 26 1.3 5

Ohio

344.4 5,488.1 1.3 1,185 30 -0.1 31

Oklahoma

131.1 1,684.9 2.1 1,052 48 0.5 19

Oregon

203.4 2,001.8 1.0 1,301 16 0.5 19

Pennsylvania

392.5 5,996.0 1.3 1,283 17 -0.9 47

Rhode Island

48.2 495.1 1.6 1,234 21 0.7 14

South Carolina

179.7 2,256.4 2.6 1,086 44 0.6 15

South Dakota

39.8 457.6 2.0 1,058 47 0.6 15

Tennessee

221.2 3,216.1 0.4 1,199 28 0.1 29

Texas

831.9 13,731.1 2.6 1,336 13 0.3 25

Utah

137.2 1,706.1 2.3 1,195 29 0.8 12

Vermont

32.4 306.5 1.4 1,141 32 -0.2 33

Virginia

315.8 4,053.6 1.8 1,383 10 0.5 19

Washington

242.6 3,618.1 1.3 1,682 2 1.5 3

West Virginia

59.1 695.3 1.8 1,044 49 0.6 15

Wisconsin

206.2 2,938.6 1.0 1,133 33 -0.4 37

Wyoming

30.6 285.2 2.1 1,111 38 2.4 1

Puerto Rico

53.6 940.2 1.6 633 (3) 2.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 35.1 1.9 953 (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