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News Release Information

24-1136-CHI
Friday, June 21, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Michigan — Fourth Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 9 of the 10 largest counties in Michigan from December 2022 to December 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 Jason Palmer noted that Ingham County and Ottawa County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 2.3 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Among the 10 largest counties in Michigan, employment was highest in Oakland County (731,000) in December 2023. Within Oakland County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 10 largest Michigan counties accounted for 69.5 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 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 73 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Nine of the ten large Michigan counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Genesee County had the largest gain (+6.1 percent), followed by Macomb County (+4.7 percent) and Wayne County (+4.7 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Michigan’s other six large counties posting increases ranged from 3.8 percent to 2.1 percent. Wages in Kent County were unchanged over the year.


Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 2 of the 10 largest counties in Michigan were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Both of these counties ranked among the top 100 nationwide: Oakland ($1,526, 61st) and Wayne ($1,460, 80th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 73 smaller counties in Michigan—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Midland County ($1,373) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, while Keweenaw County ($654) reported the state’s lowest average weekly wage.

When all 83 counties in Michigan were considered, 24 reported average weekly wages of less than $950, 15 registered wages from $950 to $999, 13 had wages from $1000 to $1,049, and 31 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Michigan, fourth quarter 2023

U.S. average = $1,435

 
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 first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 10 largest counties in Michigan, fourth quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,090.1154,848.11.5--1,435--3.6--

Michigan

330.94,407.81.2--1,316223.334

Genesee

8.1133.90.32911,1093096.117

Ingham

7.6155.32.3691,3091633.2207

Kalamazoo

6.7120.4-0.23301,2711853.8135

Kent

19.5420.40.82311,1932470.0349

Macomb

22.0339.50.13081,3661214.757

Oakland

48.9731.00.82311,526612.4272

Ottawa

7.4133.11.91121,1942452.9235

Saginaw

4.480.30.72461,1262992.1296

Washtenaw

10.9218.71.31811,412943.6167

Wayne

41.1730.31.12041,460804.757

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 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment December 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,090,132154,848,1131,435

Michigan

330,9424,407,7611,316

Alcona

2371,432839

Alger

2932,3181,016

Allegan

2,92340,4191,184

Alpena

99112,2421,094

Antrim

6754,951850

Arenac

3944,030959

Baraga

2303,060970

Barry

1,14513,2931,016

Bay

2,38533,6261,060

Benzie

5394,565854

Berrien

4,55759,6631,090

Branch

96415,190996

Calhoun

2,91753,7301,178

Cass

1,0219,2191,047

Charlevoix

97310,4871,127

Cheboygan

9375,521903

Chippewa

93712,6821,023

Clare

6887,2111,011

Clinton

1,59118,5641,086

Crawford

3104,0381,035

Delta

1,15113,325936

Dickinson

93913,7761,122

Eaton

2,35143,5761,194

Emmet

1,71317,3691,103

Genesee

8,115133,8951,109

Gladwin

5004,192934

Gogebic

4615,096926

Grand Traverse

4,12250,9271,178

Gratiot

87312,6491,112

Hillsdale

96612,5241,020

Houghton

1,05512,0081,084

Huron

1,11811,1781,005

Ingham

7,639155,2801,309

Ionia

1,19219,547943

Iosco

6907,5041,181

Iron

4363,373882

Isabella

1,52226,7511,006

Jackson

3,45056,2761,166

Kalamazoo

6,702120,4171,271

Kalkaska

4174,5711,207

Kent

19,453420,4351,193

Keweenaw

94452654

Lake

2031,641782

Lapeer

1,91621,7641,001

Leelanau

9446,189978

Lenawee

2,17525,864994

Livingston

5,38764,3261,124

Luce

2051,731919

Mackinac

5693,668982

Macomb

22,014339,5191,366

Manistee

6706,918997

Marquette

1,89426,0761,050

Mason

7889,938955

Mecosta

75413,621878

Menominee

5447,139921

Midland

4,52938,3711,373

Missaukee

4244,234942

Monroe

2,78141,3621,137

Montcalm

1,20716,119930

Montmorency

2632,040841

Muskegon

3,43362,4411,038

Newaygo

96112,142947

Oakland

48,866730,9841,526

Oceana

6525,735916

Ogemaw

6825,971827

Ontonagon

2111,389697

Osceola

5207,737982

Oscoda

2181,258858

Otsego

90410,6971,038

Ottawa

7,380133,1051,194

Presque Isle

3902,501893

Roscommon

6496,213743

Saginaw

4,43180,3001,126

St. Clair

3,50641,8741,072

St. Joseph

3,08621,1751,006

Sanilac

97510,436970

Schoolcraft

2652,537997

Shiawassee

1,27515,469993

Tuscola

97612,101987

Van Buren

1,78821,105998

Washtenaw

10,871218,6721,412

Wayne

41,142730,3461,460

Wexford

99413,513996

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.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, June 21, 2024