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News Release Information

23-585-PHI
Thursday, March 23, 2023

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:

County Employment and Wages in New Jersey — Third Quarter 2022

Employment rose in all 15 large counties in New Jersey from September 2021 to September 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2021.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that Gloucester County and Essex County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 6.5 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 4.3 percent over the year, with 346 of the 355 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Orleans, LA, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 10.7 percent. Deschutes, OR, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.4 percent.

Among the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, employment was highest in Bergen County (433,500) in September 2022. 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 89.1 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 355 largest counties made up 72.8 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 6 counties in New Jersey with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 5 of the 6 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2022. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All 15 large New Jersey counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2022. (See chart 2.) Three counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 6.7 percent. Mercer County had the largest gain (+9.9 percent), followed by Essex County (+7.3 percent) and Ocean County (+7.2 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among New Jersey’s other 12 large counties ranged from 6.2 percent to 1.7 percent.

Among the 355 largest counties in the United States, 345 had over-the-year wage increases. Midland, TX, had the largest percentage wage increase (+13.9 percent). San Mateo, CA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-19.6 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 2022. Average weekly wages in five of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide: Somerset ($1,777, 13th), Morris ($1,754, 14th), Hudson ($1,644, 24th), Mercer ($1,593, 27th), and Essex ($1,576, 29th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 91 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2022. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,061. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 264 counties. At $812 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in New Jersey’s smaller counties

Among the 6 smaller counties in New Jersey—those with employment below 75,000—Hunterdon ($1,341) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Cape May County ($869) 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 chart 3.)

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

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. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for fourth quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. The County Employment and Wages full data update for fourth quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

For more information see the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release.

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.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 15 largest counties in New Jersey, third quarter 2022
Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2022
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,608.9 151,239.6 4.3 -- $1,334 -- 6.7 --

New Jersey

320.9 4,176.5 5.0 -- 1,461 7 5.6 44

Atlantic

7.1 126.5 4.1 109 1,075 284 5.8 273

Bergen

36.1 433.5 4.4 96 1,436 59 3.8 324

Burlington

12.3 203.4 2.2 272 1,282 119 2.7 336

Camden

13.7 204.9 4.5 86 1,228 163 4.9 306

Essex

23.5 337.5 6.2 24 1,576 29 7.3 189

Gloucester

7.2 122.2 6.5 18 1,068 289 5.4 292

Hudson

18.6 270.3 5.3 52 1,644 24 6.1 258

Mercer

12.1 261.7 2.6 238 1,593 27 9.9 50

Middlesex

25.1 431.3 3.7 144 1,446 56 3.4 328

Monmouth

21.9 267.1 4.0 118 1,265 131 6.2 253

Morris

18.2 295.5 2.9 213 1,754 14 4.5 315

Ocean

15.5 181.9 5.3 52 1,042 308 7.2 196

Passaic

14.6 167.8 5.4 45 1,165 203 1.7 342

Somerset

11.0 189.2 4.2 103 1,777 13 3.4 328

Union

16.4 227.0 3.1 194 1,457 54 4.0 322

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 2022
Area Establishments Employment September 2022 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,608,876 151,239,638 $1,334

New Jersey

320,904 4,176,456 1,461

Atlantic

7,139 126,481 1,075

Bergen

36,065 433,453 1,436

Burlington

12,347 203,427 1,282

Camden

13,660 204,851 1,228

Cape May

4,056 46,253 869

Cumberland

3,617 61,313 1,048

Essex

23,509 337,522 1,576

Gloucester

7,228 122,180 1,068

Hudson

18,610 270,273 1,644

Hunterdon

4,162 44,721 1,341

Mercer

12,094 261,662 1,593

Middlesex

25,107 431,263 1,446

Monmouth

21,904 267,147 1,265

Morris

18,211 295,508 1,754

Ocean

15,513 181,940 1,042

Passaic

14,580 167,766 1,165

Salem

1,436 21,617 1,211

Somerset

10,995 189,205 1,777

Sussex

3,624 37,359 1,045

Union

16,418 227,032 1,457

Warren

2,880 32,022 1,109

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 2022
State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
September 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2021–22
Third quarter
2022
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2021–22
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,608.9 151,239.6 4.3 $1,334 -- 6.7 --

Alabama

150.1 2,031.6 3.2 1,120 35 9.1 9

Alaska

24.9 325.2 2.5 1,304 15 8.2 29

Arizona

205.4 3,080.6 3.9 1,251 20 7.7 36

Arkansas

100.1 1,262.1 4.4 1,036 50 7.5 38

California

1,741.3 18,051.1 4.9 1,601 5 1.5 50

Colorado

247.1 2,813.9 3.3 1,432 8 8.5 22

Connecticut

140.6 1,652.8 2.8 1,491 6 6.5 42

Delaware

39.7 465.7 5.1 1,292 18 8.4 25

District of Columbia

49.0 756.6 2.7 2,134 1 4.5 48

Florida

860.6 9,417.2 5.6 1,220 23 9.0 11

Georgia

378.4 4,726.4 5.1 1,255 19 8.5 22

Hawaii

52.8 623.2 4.5 1,208 24 5.1 46

Idaho

86.7 834.7 3.8 1,063 45 11.5 1

Illinois

410.9 5,982.2 3.9 1,361 12 6.9 40

Indiana

188.3 3,140.6 3.9 1,123 34 8.6 19

Iowa

111.1 1,541.1 1.9 1,118 36 10.1 3

Kansas

95.6 1,401.3 3.7 1,085 41 8.8 15

Kentucky

142.9 1,941.5 3.8 1,082 43 9.4 6

Louisiana

150.7 1,866.3 4.5 1,103 39 8.2 29

Maine

62.2 637.7 2.5 1,117 37 8.4 25

Maryland

188.3 2,669.1 2.5 1,418 9 7.9 32

Massachusetts

292.6 3,628.8 3.6 1,651 3 3.6 49

Michigan

296.0 4,334.0 3.5 1,236 21 7.2 39

Minnesota

201.6 2,880.9 3.4 1,346 13 7.9 32

Mississippi

81.5 1,151.8 2.4 933 51 8.7 17

Missouri

236.9 2,849.2 3.2 1,149 31 8.9 14

Montana

61.2 505.5 3.9 1,059 46 10.0 4

Nebraska

80.5 989.2 2.4 1,117 37 9.9 5

Nevada

107.0 1,496.1 7.5 1,205 26 6.2 43

New Hampshire

63.8 677.3 3.4 1,365 11 1.2 51

New Jersey

320.9 4,176.5 5.0 1,461 7 5.6 44

New Mexico

70.9 838.1 3.5 1,087 40 9.1 9

New York

683.2 9,355.0 4.8 1,608 4 4.8 47

North Carolina

348.9 4,737.5 4.9 1,207 25 8.5 22

North Dakota

34.5 419.8 2.9 1,190 28 10.7 2

Ohio

328.9 5,402.7 2.9 1,187 29 8.1 31

Oklahoma

123.9 1,646.6 3.8 1,047 48 8.6 19

Oregon

179.5 1,932.6 1.1 1,301 16 6.6 41

Pennsylvania

390.7 5,913.7 3.8 1,296 17 7.6 37

Rhode Island

46.5 487.3 3.1 1,225 22 8.3 27

South Carolina

166.6 2,200.9 4.7 1,079 44 9.4 6

South Dakota

39.1 448.5 2.9 1,052 47 9.0 11

Tennessee

204.0 3,202.4 5.1 1,198 27 7.9 32

Texas

805.5 13,371.1 5.9 1,333 14 8.6 19

Utah

134.1 1,663.9 4.4 1,186 30 9.0 11

Vermont

30.8 300.6 2.4 1,142 32 7.9 32

Virginia

330.1 3,979.4 3.4 1,380 10 9.3 8

Washington

235.3 3,572.9 4.4 1,657 2 5.2 45

West Virginia

56.8 678.8 1.9 1,042 49 8.3 27

Wisconsin

200.7 2,899.1 2.8 1,140 33 8.7 17

Wyoming

29.9 278.2 2.3 1,083 42 8.8 15

Puerto Rico

50.0 924.6 3.9 616 (3) 8.5 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.7 34.3 -1.0 1,030 (3) 9.2 (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.

Chart 3. Average weekly wages by county in New Jersey, third quarter 2022

U.S. average= $1,334

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023