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News Release Information

21-1538-CHI
Friday, September 17, 2021

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

County Employment and Wages in Ohio — First Quarter 2021

Employment fell in the 13 largest counties in Ohio from March 2020 to March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that Lucas County and Montgomery County had the largest over-the-year decreases in employment at 5.8 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment decreased 4.5 percent over the year, with 324 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting declines. Calcasieu, LA, had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment with a loss of 14.9 percent. Utah, UT, experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment with a gain of 6.1 percent.

Among the 13 largest counties in Ohio, employment was highest in Franklin County (728,000) in March 2021. Within Franklin County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 13 largest Ohio counties accounted for 64.7 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.3 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 75 counties in Ohio with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 75 smaller counties were below the national average in the first quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All 13 large Ohio counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) One county had a rate of wage gain that was above the national rate of 5.6 percent. Summit County had the largest gain (+6.1 percent), followed by Stark County (+5.1 percent) and Mahoning County (+4.7 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Ohio’s other 10 large counties ranged from 4.3 percent to 0.9 percent.


Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 312 had over-the-year wage increases. Nationally, across most industries, increases in average weekly wages reflect substantial employment declines combined with wage increases. The lowest paying industry, leisure and hospitality, had the largest employment loss, which resulted in higher average weekly wages for the industry and the nation. San Francisco, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.9 percent). Clayton, GA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-14.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 2 of the 13 largest counties in Ohio were above the national average of $1,289 in the first quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in four counties ranked among the top 100 nationwide: Hamilton ($1,369, 63rd), Delaware ($1,306, 81st), Cuyahoga ($1,263, 92nd), and Franklin ($1,256, 97th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 84 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2021. New York, NY, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,967. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 259 counties. At $685 a week, Cameron, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Ohio’s smaller counties

Among the 75 smaller counties in Ohio—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average of $1,289. Meigs County ($632) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 88 counties in Ohio were considered, 28 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 32 registered wages from $800 to $899, 15 had wages from $900 to $999, and 13 registered average weekly wages of $1,000 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 second quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The County Employment and Wages full data update for second quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.


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.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Covered employment and wages in the United States and the 13 largest counties in Ohio, first quarter 2021
AreaEstablishments,
first quarter 2021
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
March 2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2021
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter 2020–21 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

10,755.4140,455.8-4.5--$1,289--5.6--

Ohio

310.15,136.8-3.9--1,098253.337

Butler

8.2148.3-4.41511,0621950.9300

Cuyahoga

37.2678.0-5.42061,263923.5208

Delaware

6.185.8-2.5631,306811.5291

Franklin

35.5728.0-3.81171,256972.9237

Hamilton

25.1487.0-5.21931,369634.3165

Lake

6.489.5-5.52119622711.9276

Lorain

6.491.4-4.51558923162.3258

Lucas

10.4192.2-5.82251,0472071.1297

Mahoning

5.990.3-5.31988203324.7141

Montgomery

12.4237.8-5.72211,0102371.9276

Stark

8.8149.9-4.21418903185.1120

Summit

14.9249.9-5.42061,0831766.183

Warren

5.694.2-2.9781,1481434.2167

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 employment and wages in the United States and all counties in Ohio, first quarter 2021
AreaEmployment March 2021Average weekly wage(1)

United States(2)

140,455,819$1,289

Ohio

5,136,8261,098

Adams

5,882803

Allen

48,226917

Ashland

18,535795

Ashtabula

28,284772

Athens

19,735843

Auglaize

20,408881

Belmont

19,756759

Brown

7,582684

Butler

148,2501,062

Carroll

5,582756

Champaign

9,873815

Clark

44,862859

Clermont

57,195939

Clinton

17,2831,097

Columbiana

27,900798

Coshocton

9,146811

Crawford

12,351806

Cuyahoga

677,9711,263

Darke

17,466845

Defiance

14,502885

Delaware

85,8411,306

Erie

32,353833

Fairfield

42,222807

Fayette

10,502785

Franklin

728,0011,256

Fulton

17,343850

Gallia

10,635786

Geauga

33,453875

Greene

74,2911,159

Guernsey

13,743832

Hamilton

487,0141,369

Hancock

44,0141,216

Hardin

8,017699

Harrison

3,255913

Henry

9,921863

Highland

10,696742

Hocking

6,572651

Holmes

19,643837

Huron

19,868820

Jackson

9,856728

Jefferson

19,854794

Knox

19,487793

Lake

89,539962

Lawrence

13,547717

Licking

73,237845

Logan

18,073875

Lorain

91,387892

Lucas

192,2121,047

Madison

17,732875

Mahoning

90,280820

Marion

23,486865

Medina

56,978953

Meigs

3,439632

Mercer

19,128775

Miami

39,624876

Monroe

2,966921

Montgomery

237,7511,010

Morgan

2,591767

Morrow

5,132706

Muskingum

32,450856

Noble

2,879797

Ottawa

11,925947

Paulding

4,604753

Perry

5,748764

Pickaway

14,079922

Pike

9,426965

Portage

50,945927

Preble

10,581891

Putnam

11,521774

Richland

46,738814

Ross

28,539921

Sandusky

24,614840

Scioto

22,948792

Seneca

18,523782

Shelby

26,325959

Stark

149,888890

Summit

249,9461,083

Trumbull

57,744800

Tuscarawas

34,773790

Union

32,3601,211

Van Wert

10,939794

Vinton

2,190717

Warren

94,1991,148

Washington

23,579949

Wayne

45,589919

Williams

16,521827

Wood

65,698980

Wyandot

9,186857

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: Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. Data are preliminary.

Table 3. Covered employment and wages by state, first quarter 2021
StateEstablishments,
first quarter 2021
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
March 2020–21
First quarter
2021
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter 2020–21
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

10,755.4140,455.8-4.5$1,289--5.6--

Alabama

135.91,924.3-3.0996372.540

Alaska

23.3295.0-5.51,12523-0.648

Arizona

176.52,894.2-2.31,150214.817

Arkansas

95.31,194.2-2.0957433.730

California

1,651.416,507.7-5.91,623411.31

Colorado

224.72,634.7-3.51,335104.125

Connecticut

128.31,550.5-5.41,57554.719

Delaware

35.2425.6-4.11,264131.644

District of Columbia

44.0708.1-9.02,16618.74

Florida

780.88,701.9-3.11,104245.113

Georgia

329.24,393.8-2.61,198173.633

Hawaii

48.0564.4-14.11,091265.79

Idaho

74.2768.61.9906504.915

Illinois

390.05,559.6-5.51,38786.77

Indiana

176.22,956.4-2.51,026343.337

Iowa

105.11,473.6-3.31,004352.639

Kansas

90.41,335.4-3.3986391.943

Kentucky

130.71,835.2-2.5965412.342

Louisiana

141.51,787.6-5.9977401.046

Maine

56.2585.0-2.81,000364.719

Maryland

174.32,522.1-5.01,38698.55

Massachusetts

271.23,334.9-6.61,73237.86

Michigan

267.54,026.6-5.91,155204.817

Minnesota

189.72,695.4-5.11,290114.622

Mississippi

75.31,098.4-2.5811511.145

Missouri

221.82,705.5-3.01,055303.730

Montana

53.2465.20.1915485.410

Nebraska

73.4944.7-2.8990383.633

Nevada

92.81,291.5-8.41,080274.719

New Hampshire

56.8631.8-3.91,258155.410

New Jersey

297.03,818.6-5.51,53375.312

New Mexico

65.2774.5-7.4958423.828

New York

664.68,587.8-8.71,869210.42

North Carolina

302.74,423.2-1.71,137224.125

North Dakota

32.3388.7-6.11,03732-0.951

Ohio

310.15,136.8-3.91,098253.337

Oklahoma

114.41,549.7-3.793946-0.850

Oregon

169.41,841.9-5.21,172186.48

Pennsylvania

369.75,531.3-5.41,226164.323

Rhode Island

41.2447.8-5.61,171193.435

South Carolina

150.12,056.2-2.6957433.828

South Dakota

35.6417.1-0.9932473.435

Tennessee

180.22,968.7-2.11,077285.014

Texas

750.112,216.7-3.41,261142.441

Utah

117.31,548.81.51,065293.730

Vermont

27.0283.7-6.91,028334.915

Virginia

291.33,765.8-3.91,285124.224

Washington

261.23,252.0-5.11,54069.13

West Virginia

52.3648.6-3.8911490.847

Wisconsin

183.12,730.0-3.71,047313.927

Wyoming

27.8255.9-4.695345-0.648

Puerto Rico

47.1856.5-3.1562(3)2.0(3)

Virgin Islands

3.634.7-14.0961(3)-8.0(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: Friday, September 17, 2021