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Thursday, July 13, 2017
Nine of the 10 large counties in Michigan had employment increases from December 2015 to December 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. (Large counties are defined as those with employment of 75,000 or more as measured by 2015 annual average employment.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Charlene Peiffer noted that Ingham County had the largest increase, up 2.2 percent, followed by Ottawa and Wayne Counties, up 1.7 percent each. (See table 1.)
Nationally, employment advanced 1.2 percent from December 2015 to December 2016 with 280 of the 344 largest U.S. counties registering increases. Williamson, Tenn., had the largest percentage increase in the country, up 5.1 percent over the year. Lafayette, La., registered the largest percentage employment decline among the large counties, down 5.1 percent.
Among the 10 largest counties in Michigan, employment was highest in Oakland County (731,900) and Wayne County (722,700) in December 2016. Two other counties, Kent (398,000) and Macomb (322,800) had employment levels of more than 300,000. Collectively, Michigan’s 10 large counties accounted for 70.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 344 largest counties made up 72.8 percent of total U.S. employment.
Ottawa and Ingham Counties had average weekly wage increases of 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the fourth quarter of 2016, the only large counties in Michigan which had wage increases. Oakland County had the highest average weekly wage in the state at $1,201, followed by Wayne County at $1,188. (See table 1.) Nationally, the average weekly wage decreased 1.5 percent over the year, declining to $1,067 in the fourth quarter of 2016. This is one of only eight declines in the history of the series, which dates back to 1978.
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 73 counties in Michigan with employment levels below 75,000. All of these smaller counties had average weekly wages below the national average. (See table 2.)
Large county wage changesEight of Michigan’s large counties had over-the-year wage declines. Genesee County recorded a wage decrease of 3.6 percent, followed by Macomb County (-2.7 percent), Wayne County (-1.8 percent), and Oakland County (-1.7 percent). As noted, two large counties in the state had over-the-year wage gains. Ottawa County’s 0.4-percent wage gain ranked 37th and Ingham County’s 0.1-percent increase ranked 40th among the nation’s 344 largest counties. (See table 1.)
Among the 344 large U.S. counties, 290 had over-the-year wage decreases. McLean, Ill., had the largest percentage decline in average weekly wages with a loss of 9.2 percent. Clay, Mo., had the second largest decrease in average weekly wages, down 8.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015, followed by Lafayette, La. (-8.0 percent), and Douglas, Colo. (-6.8 percent).
Forty-eight large U.S. counties experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Clayton, Ga., had the largest wage gain, up 11.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015. Washington, Pa., was second with a wage gain of 4.9 percent, followed by the counties of Marin, Calif. (4.3 percent), and Elkhart, Ind. (4.0 percent).
Large county average weekly wagesAs noted, Oakland County ($1,201) had the highest average weekly wage in the state and ranked 54th among the 344 largest U.S. counties. Wayne ($1,188, 57th), Washtenaw ($1,100, 75th), and Macomb ($1,069, 99th) Counties also reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,067. Two other counties—Ingham ($1,032) and Kalamazoo ($985)—had average weekly wages that placed in the top-half of the national ranking. Saginaw ($865) reported the lowest average weekly wage among the state’s large counties and ranked 276th nationwide.
Seventy-one percent of the large U.S. counties (243) reported average weekly wages below the national average of $1,067. Cameron, Texas, reported the lowest weekly wage ($640), followed by Hidalgo, Texas ($648), and Horry, S.C. ($654).
Nationally, 101 large counties registered average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2016. Santa Clara, Calif., held the top position with an average weekly wage of $2,365. New York, N.Y., was second at $2,212, followed by San Mateo, Calif., at $2,098.
Average weekly wages in Michigan’s smaller countiesAll 73 counties in Michigan with employment below 75,000 had average weekly wages below the national average of $1,067. Among these smaller counties, Midland had the highest average weekly wage at $1,050, while Keweenaw had the lowest at $489. (See table 2.)
When the 83 counties in Michigan were considered, all but 4 had wages below the national average. Nine reported average weekly wages of $649 or lower, 21 reported wages from $650 to $749, 28 had wages from $750 to $849, 15 reported wages from $850 to $949, and 10 had wages of $950 or higher. (See chart 1.)
Additional statistics and other informationQuarterly 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 the QCEW Web site at 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. The 2015 edition of this publication contains selected data produced by Business Employment Dynamics (BED) on job gains and losses, as well as selected data from the first quarter 2016 version of the national news release. Tables and additional content from Employment and Wages Annual Averages 2015 are now available online at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/2015/home.htm. The 2016 edition of Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online will be available in September 2017.
The County Employment and Wages release for first quarter 2017 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.
Beginning with the release of first quarter 2017 data, the program will switch to the 2017 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry. For more information on the change, please see the Federal Register notice at www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/federal_register_notices/notices/fr08au16.pdf.
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 9.9 million employer reports cover 143.7 million full- and part-time workers. 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.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8342.
Area | Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2016 (thousands) | Percent change, December 2015-16 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | Average weekly wage | National ranking by level (3) | Percent change, fourth quarter 2015-16 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | |
United States (4) | 143,749.9 | 1.2 | -- | $1,067 | -- | -1.5 | -- |
Michigan | 4,283.0 | 1.5 | -- | 1,026 | 19 | -1.6 | 25 |
Genesee, Mich. | 135.4 | 0.6 | 230 | 889 | 252 | -3.6 | 294 |
Ingham, Mich. | 151.9 | 2.2 | 90 | 1,032 | 119 | 0.1 | 40 |
Kalamazoo, Mich. | 118.2 | 1.4 | 156 | 985 | 163 | -1.4 | 149 |
Kent, Mich. | 398.0 | 1.6 | 139 | 936 | 209 | -1.4 | 149 |
Macomb, Mich. | 322.8 | 1.0 | 194 | 1,069 | 99 | -2.7 | 259 |
Oakland, Mich. | 731.9 | 1.5 | 146 | 1,201 | 54 | -1.7 | 181 |
Ottawa, Mich. | 122.5 | 1.7 | 130 | 952 | 184 | 0.4 | 37 |
Saginaw, Mich. | 85.7 | -0.3 | 302 | 865 | 276 | -0.9 | 110 |
Washtenaw, Mich. | 211.3 | 1.5 | 146 | 1,100 | 75 | -1.4 | 149 |
Wayne, Mich. | 722.7 | 1.7 | 130 | 1,188 | 57 | -1.8 | 183 |
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 | Employment December 2016 | Average weekly wage(1) |
---|---|---|
United States(2) | 143,749,910 | $1,067 |
Michigan | 4,282,950 | 1,026 |
Alcona | 1,658 | 725 |
Alger | 2,334 | 795 |
Allegan | 37,423 | 894 |
Alpena | 11,810 | 714 |
Antrim | 4,971 | 632 |
Arenac | 4,369 | 727 |
Baraga | 2,815 | 797 |
Barry | 12,191 | 776 |
Bay | 34,711 | 850 |
Benzie | 3,976 | 663 |
Berrien | 60,471 | 909 |
Branch | 13,086 | 783 |
Calhoun | 56,958 | 977 |
Cass | 9,151 | 756 |
Charlevoix | 9,916 | 848 |
Cheboygan | 5,831 | 639 |
Chippewa | 12,281 | 738 |
Clare | 6,778 | 750 |
Clinton | 16,513 | 854 |
Crawford | 3,717 | 787 |
Delta | 13,300 | 766 |
Dickinson | 13,701 | 868 |
Eaton | 42,869 | 911 |
Emmet | 16,967 | 822 |
Genesee | 135,430 | 889 |
Gladwin | 3,860 | 702 |
Gogebic | 5,452 | 734 |
Grand Traverse | 49,789 | 865 |
Gratiot | 12,951 | 832 |
Hillsdale | 12,812 | 836 |
Houghton | 11,363 | 805 |
Huron | 10,975 | 764 |
Ingham | 151,869 | 1,032 |
Ionia | 20,793 | 639 |
Iosco | 7,418 | 695 |
Iron | 3,872 | 701 |
Isabella | 29,882 | 747 |
Jackson | 57,475 | 928 |
Kalamazoo | 118,222 | 985 |
Kalkaska | 3,832 | 964 |
Kent | 398,032 | 936 |
Keweenaw | 353 | 489 |
Lake | 1,594 | 643 |
Lapeer | 20,714 | 773 |
Leelanau | 5,863 | 735 |
Lenawee | 27,133 | 817 |
Livingston | 59,479 | 869 |
Luce | 1,816 | 714 |
Mackinac | 3,130 | 711 |
Macomb | 322,839 | 1,069 |
Manistee | 6,950 | 784 |
Marquette | 26,636 | 798 |
Mason | 10,240 | 743 |
Mecosta | 14,139 | 808 |
Menominee | 7,032 | 701 |
Midland | 36,857 | 1,050 |
Missaukee | 3,206 | 662 |
Monroe | 40,926 | 912 |
Montcalm | 15,782 | 811 |
Montmorency | 1,950 | 637 |
Muskegon | 62,108 | 846 |
Newaygo | 12,036 | 759 |
Oakland | 731,913 | 1,201 |
Oceana | 6,174 | 716 |
Ogemaw | 5,673 | 651 |
Ontonagon | 1,208 | 606 |
Osceola | 6,480 | 855 |
Oscoda | 1,529 | 630 |
Otsego | 10,000 | 752 |
Ottawa | 122,541 | 952 |
Presque Isle | 2,869 | 734 |
Roscommon | 5,325 | 607 |
Saginaw | 85,651 | 865 |
St. Clair | 44,669 | 845 |
St. Joseph | 23,923 | 755 |
Sanilac | 10,967 | 711 |
Schoolcraft | 2,616 | 773 |
Shiawassee | 16,154 | 734 |
Tuscola | 11,222 | 791 |
Van Buren | 20,633 | 862 |
Washtenaw | 211,323 | 1,100 |
Wayne | 722,679 | 1,188 |
Wexford | 13,339 | 756 |
Footnotes | ||
NOTE: Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. Data are preliminary. |
State | Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2016 (thousands) | Percent change, December 2015-16 | Average weekly wage | National ranking by level | Percent change, fourth quarter 2015-16 | National ranking by percent change | |
United States (2) | 143,749.9 | 1.2 | $1,067 | -- | -1.5 | -- |
Alabama | 1,932.6 | 0.7 | 901 | 35 | -1.3 | 21 |
Alaska | 310.0 | -1.9 | 1,038 | 17 | -5.2 | 51 |
Arizona | 2,760.1 | 2.1 | 945 | 25 | -2.2 | 34 |
Arkansas | 1,205.4 | 0.4 | 827 | 47 | -1.4 | 22 |
California | 16,923.3 | 1.9 | 1,271 | 5 | -0.3 | 4 |
Colorado | 2,588.6 | 2.0 | 1,086 | 12 | -1.5 | 24 |
Connecticut | 1,685.5 | 0.0 | 1,289 | 4 | -3.4 | 46 |
Delaware | 441.2 | -0.1 | 1,055 | 15 | -2.9 | 44 |
District of Columbia | 760.9 | 0.5 | 1,763 | 1 | 0.6 | 2 |
Florida | 8,538.9 | 2.7 | 942 | 27 | -1.8 | 28 |
Georgia | 4,349.3 | 2.4 | 993 | 20 | -0.9 | 14 |
Hawaii | 658.3 | 0.7 | 954 | 24 | -0.3 | 4 |
Idaho | 691.6 | 3.2 | 800 | 50 | -0.4 | 8 |
Illinois | 5,947.6 | 0.4 | 1,122 | 9 | -2.0 | 31 |
Indiana | 3,021.7 | 0.9 | 883 | 38 | -0.9 | 14 |
Iowa | 1,542.0 | 0.1 | 911 | 33 | -1.0 | 16 |
Kansas | 1,384.5 | 0.1 | 877 | 39 | -2.2 | 34 |
Kentucky | 1,894.2 | 0.6 | 874 | 41 | -1.4 | 22 |
Louisiana | 1,907.4 | -1.6 | 914 | 32 | -2.9 | 44 |
Maine | 602.6 | 0.8 | 855 | 43 | -2.1 | 33 |
Maryland | 2,666.7 | 1.0 | 1,169 | 7 | -0.4 | 8 |
Massachusetts | 3,530.4 | 1.3 | 1,352 | 2 | -2.4 | 39 |
Michigan | 4,283.0 | 1.5 | 1,026 | 19 | -1.6 | 25 |
Minnesota | 2,839.7 | 1.2 | 1,062 | 14 | -1.1 | 18 |
Mississippi | 1,134.0 | 0.0 | 756 | 51 | -1.8 | 28 |
Missouri | 2,783.2 | 0.9 | 918 | 31 | -1.7 | 27 |
Montana | 456.5 | 0.7 | 822 | 48 | 0.5 | 3 |
Nebraska | 972.4 | 0.0 | 876 | 40 | -0.5 | 10 |
Nevada | 1,307.8 | 2.7 | 924 | 29 | -1.2 | 20 |
New Hampshire | 656.9 | 1.3 | 1,092 | 10 | -4.1 | 48 |
New Jersey | 4,042.1 | 1.4 | 1,239 | 6 | -1.9 | 30 |
New Mexico | 811.4 | 0.0 | 844 | 45 | -2.5 | 41 |
New York | 9,332.5 | 1.2 | 1,342 | 3 | -2.3 | 36 |
North Carolina | 4,326.3 | 1.8 | 932 | 28 | -0.7 | 13 |
North Dakota | 414.4 | -3.2 | 978 | 21 | -4.2 | 49 |
Ohio | 5,365.6 | 0.7 | 943 | 26 | -2.3 | 36 |
Oklahoma | 1,587.7 | -1.2 | 864 | 42 | -3.5 | 47 |
Oregon | 1,860.7 | 2.4 | 970 | 22 | -1.0 | 16 |
Pennsylvania | 5,799.8 | 0.7 | 1,039 | 16 | -2.3 | 36 |
Rhode Island | 478.3 | 0.0 | 1,027 | 18 | -1.6 | 25 |
South Carolina | 2,024.3 | 1.8 | 855 | 43 | -0.6 | 12 |
South Dakota | 419.9 | 0.5 | 828 | 46 | -0.5 | 10 |
Tennessee | 2,947.5 | 1.8 | 970 | 22 | -1.1 | 18 |
Texas | 11,974.7 | 1.2 | 1,072 | 13 | -2.5 | 41 |
Utah | 1,415.1 | 2.9 | 910 | 34 | -0.3 | 4 |
Vermont | 312.6 | 0.1 | 897 | 36 | -2.4 | 39 |
Virginia | 3,831.6 | 0.6 | 1,091 | 11 | -0.3 | 4 |
Washington | 3,227.9 | 2.8 | 1,150 | 8 | 1.7 | 1 |
West Virginia | 693.1 | -1.6 | 809 | 49 | -2.5 | 41 |
Wisconsin | 2,842.4 | 0.5 | 924 | 29 | -2.0 | 31 |
Wyoming | 265.8 | -3.9 | 894 | 37 | -4.7 | 50 |
Puerto Rico | 928.2 | -0.3 | 555 | (3) | -1.9 | (3) |
Virgin Islands | 38.5 | 0.2 | 769 | (3) | -1.8 | (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: Thursday, July 13, 2017