Employment rose in the 10 largest counties in Michigan from December 2020 to December 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 Kent County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 8.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 5.2 percent over the year, with 334 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Clark, NV, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 13.3 percent. Hinds, MS, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.9 percent.

Among the 10 largest counties in Michigan, employment was highest in Oakland County (712,400) in December 2021. Together, the 10 largest Michigan counties accounted for 69.7 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.4 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 73 counties in Michigan with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Nine of the 10 large Michigan counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) Kalamazoo County, with a wage gain of 6.9 percent, was the only county that had a rate of wage gain above the national rate of 5.9 percent. Over-the-year wage changes among Michigan’s other nine large counties ranged from 4.9 percent to -0.3 percent.

Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 334 had over-the-year wage increases. Palm Beach, FL, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.6 percent). Kitsap, WA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-5.5 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the 2 of the 10 largest counties in Michigan were above the national average of $1,418 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Average weekly wages in these counties ranked among the top one-fourth nationwide: Oakland ($1,514, 61^st) and Wayne ($1,426, 80^th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 84 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2021. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $4,005. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 259 counties. At $826 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Michigan’s smaller counties

Among the 73 smaller counties in Michigan—those with employment below 75,000—Midland ($1,347) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, below the national average of $1,418. Keweenaw County ($626) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 83 counties in Michigan were considered, 21 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 22 registered wages from $900 to $999, 18 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 22 had average weekly wages of $1,100 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/.

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; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 10 largest counties in Michigan, fourth quarter 2021

Area	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage (1)
		December 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Fourth quarter 2021	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, fourth quarter 2020–21 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	11,194.1	148,293.6	5.2	--	$1,418	--	5.9	--
Michigan	274.9	4,250.8	6.3	--	1,291	22	2.7	49
Genesee	7.2	130.0	5.1	117	1,069	307	-0.3	337
Ingham	6.6	146.4	5.0	123	1,264	166	0.7	327
Kalamazoo	5.8	118.8	5.5	95	1,272	160	6.9	74
Kent	16.5	400.6	8.0	13	1,202	205	0.8	326
Macomb	19.2	326.2	5.5	95	1,334	123	2.2	292
Oakland	42.5	712.4	4.9	136	1,514	61	2.4	285
Ottawa	6.4	126.3	3.6	210	1,155	244	2.4	285
Saginaw	4.0	79.3	4.3	167	1,129	260	4.9	171
Washtenaw	9.3	214.4	5.8	76	1,373	101	0.7	327
Wayne	35.2	710.2	5.1	117	1,426	80	3.3	251
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 Michigan, fourth quarter 2021

Area	Establishments	Employment December 2021	Average weekly wage (1)
United States (2)	11,194,120	148,293,597	$1,418
Michigan	274,895	4,250,847	1,291
Alcona	196	1,700	861
Alger	245	2,297	999
Allegan	2,500	38,060	1,156
Alpena	863	11,547	1,051
Antrim	585	4,749	813
Arenac	335	3,680	880
Baraga	206	2,807	968
Barry	1,007	12,498	982
Bay	2,096	33,318	1,078
Benzie	484	4,250	862
Berrien	3,851	57,778	1,098
Branch	842	14,209	983
Calhoun	2,478	52,366	1,187
Cass	856	8,842	1,024
Charlevoix	849	9,867	1,087
Cheboygan	798	5,587	860
Chippewa	833	11,982	954
Clare	570	6,370	929
Clinton	1,346	16,793	1,111
Crawford	282	4,033	1,001
Delta	1,039	13,435	996
Dickinson	849	13,672	1,172
Eaton	2,033	42,368	1,100
Emmet	1,506	17,342	1,028
Genesee	7,156	129,970	1,069
Gladwin	422	3,982	887
Gogebic	385	5,025	877
Grand Traverse	3,543	48,870	1,155
Gratiot	762	12,190	1,094
Hillsdale	818	12,317	1,007
Houghton	905	11,576	1,045
Huron	991	10,599	977
Ingham	6,575	146,437	1,264
Ionia	1,050	19,034	901
Iosco	602	7,391	1,257
Iron	383	3,316	862
Isabella	1,341	26,606	954
Jackson	2,978	56,322	1,164
Kalamazoo	5,802	118,818	1,272
Kalkaska	355	4,157	1,203
Kent	16,532	400,642	1,202
Keweenaw	83	312	626
Lake	165	1,780	866
Lapeer	1,659	21,023	984
Leelanau	795	5,782	967
Lenawee	1,909	25,268	993
Livingston	4,720	60,862	1,121
Luce	179	1,656	847
Mackinac	477	3,366	946
Macomb	19,220	326,189	1,334
Manistee	579	6,446	976
Marquette	1,658	25,871	1,013
Mason	699	9,713	1,015
Mecosta	675	13,263	948
Menominee	481	7,075	874
Midland	3,444	36,147	1,347
Missaukee	359	3,721	880
Monroe	2,397	37,970	1,125
Montcalm	1,043	15,936	897
Montmorency	218	1,986	803
Muskegon	2,993	60,612	1,015
Newaygo	827	11,671	933
Oakland	42,540	712,416	1,514
Oceana	571	5,704	868
Ogemaw	577	5,993	856
Ontonagon	177	1,268	671
Osceola	454	7,326	1,059
Oscoda	206	1,259	774
Otsego	786	10,270	1,027
Ottawa	6,383	126,293	1,155
Presque Isle	339	2,536	866
Roscommon	568	5,253	777
Saginaw	3,972	79,296	1,129
St. Clair	2,964	41,872	1,101
St. Joseph	2,870	20,356	969
Sanilac	869	10,143	911
Schoolcraft	231	2,486	1,002
Shiawassee	1,140	15,053	992
Tuscola	848	11,110	960
Van Buren	1,511	20,128	1,038
Washtenaw	9,337	214,358	1,373
Wayne	35,162	710,238	1,426
Wexford	885	13,785	948
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, fourth quarter 2021

State	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage (1)
		December 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2020–21	Fourth quarter 2021	National ranking by level	Percent change, fourth quarter 2020–21	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	11,194.1	148,293.6	5.2	$1,418	--	5.9	--
Alabama	141.2	2,007.0	3.1	1,153	36	4.9	34
Alaska	24.1	299.4	3.1	1,311	19	4.1	43
Arizona	190.2	3,057.8	5.1	1,281	23	5.5	27
Arkansas	97.0	1,236.1	3.4	1,064	49	6.4	14
California	1,701.9	17,622.2	7.4	1,804	4	4.8	37
Colorado	232.9	2,776.4	6.2	1,484	10	7.8	3
Connecticut	134.0	1,639.9	3.9	1,611	6	3.9	45
Delaware	37.0	452.0	4.5	1,337	16	5.9	23
District of Columbia	46.1	749.4	5.1	2,320	1	1.0	50
Florida	834.7	9,241.1	6.7	1,297	20	9.7	2
Georgia	351.2	4,629.8	5.0	1,292	21	7.0	9
Hawaii	50.4	613.8	9.2	1,229	28	0.8	51
Idaho	81.8	802.3	5.1	1,111	42	7.4	6
Illinois	400.5	5,877.3	5.4	1,473	11	6.9	11
Indiana	179.4	3,089.3	3.4	1,153	36	7.0	9
Iowa	107.3	1,527.4	2.2	1,157	35	5.3	30
Kansas	92.5	1,381.0	2.4	1,132	41	5.8	24
Kentucky	136.5	1,919.8	4.5	1,110	43	5.0	33
Louisiana	146.1	1,853.9	2.9	1,142	40	6.0	21
Maine	59.7	613.7	3.3	1,163	34	6.4	14
Maryland	178.1	2,648.4	3.9	1,499	9	3.8	46
Massachusetts	281.8	3,556.9	5.5	1,832	2	3.7	47
Michigan	274.9	4,250.8	6.3	1,291	22	2.7	49
Minnesota	191.0	2,823.7	5.2	1,378	13	4.0	44
Mississippi	78.5	1,147.3	2.4	944	51	4.8	37
Missouri	226.1	2,804.8	2.9	1,179	33	4.5	40
Montana	56.7	489.0	4.6	1,108	44	7.1	8
Nebraska	77.5	978.5	1.5	1,144	38	6.1	19
Nevada	98.3	1,432.6	11.5	1,246	25	5.8	24
New Hampshire	61.2	662.2	3.9	1,580	7	12.3	1
New Jersey	315.6	4,123.7	6.8	1,563	8	3.0	48
New Mexico	66.5	819.1	6.5	1,097	47	4.4	41
New York	674.4	9,195.8	5.8	1,829	3	6.8	13
North Carolina	324.7	4,646.6	4.7	1,241	26	7.8	3
North Dakota	33.3	407.9	3.4	1,192	31	4.9	34
Ohio	318.8	5,352.6	2.9	1,221	29	5.2	31
Oklahoma	117.8	1,604.5	2.1	1,080	48	6.9	11
Oregon	173.4	1,915.0	4.8	1,332	17	6.1	19
Pennsylvania	379.7	5,807.9	4.5	1,352	15	5.1	32
Rhode Island	44.1	475.5	5.7	1,315	18	4.4	41
South Carolina	155.8	2,147.9	3.5	1,101	46	6.4	14
South Dakota	37.6	435.5	2.7	1,108	44	5.7	26
Tennessee	191.7	3,123.3	3.9	1,258	24	7.3	7
Texas	779.4	13,012.7	6.1	1,376	14	6.3	17
Utah	126.9	1,624.1	4.3	1,231	27	6.2	18
Vermont	28.7	298.7	4.3	1,189	32	4.9	34
Virginia	303.4	3,918.0	3.1	1,424	12	4.8	37
Washington	276.1	3,427.0	6.3	1,683	5	6.0	21
West Virginia	54.7	674.4	3.1	1,053	50	5.5	27
Wisconsin	194.0	2,832.6	2.4	1,202	30	5.4	29
Wyoming	28.8	267.2	2.7	1,143	39	7.7	5
Puerto Rico	48.2	935.3	6.8	645	(3)	3.9	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.4	35.0	-0.4	1,090	(3)	3.0	(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.