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News Release Information

24-477-CHI
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in North Dakota — Third Quarter 2023

Employment rose 2.3 percent in North Dakota’s only large county, Cass, from September 2022 to September 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 in September 2023, Cass County’s employment level was 128,100. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hall, GA, had the largest increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent).

Cass County’s employment accounted for 29.9 percent of total employment within the state in September 2023. Within the county’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 52 counties in North Dakota with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 45 of the 52 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Cass County’s 1.9-percent wage growth from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023 was higher than the national rate of 0.1 percent and ranked 30th nationally. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 169 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+7.7 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.0 percent).

 Large county average weekly wages

Cass County’s $1,238 average weekly was below the national average of $1,334 and ranked 153rd among the 360 large U.S. counties in the third quarter of 2023. Among the largest U.S. counties, 92 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2023. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,288). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($793).

 

Average weekly wages in North Dakota’s smaller counties

Among the 52 smaller counties in North Dakota—those with employment below 75,000—Williams ($1,672) reported the highest average weekly wage, while Sheridan County ($641) reported the state’s lowest.

When all 53 counties in North Dakota were considered, 16 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 15 registered wages from $900 to $999, 7 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 15 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in North Dakota, third quarter 2023

(U.S. Average = $1,334)

 
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 fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in North Dakota, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,026.4153,772.81.5--1,334--0.1--

North Dakota

35.8428.31.9--1,205261.35

Cass

9.3128.12.3681,2381531.930

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 North Dakota, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment September 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378153,772,8111,334

North Dakota

35,815428,3331,205

Adams

113840929

Barnes

4494,499947

Benson

1542,002981

Billings

53775948

Bottineau

3382,4431,003

Bowman

1881,335969

Burke

1246921,247

Burleigh

4,26957,3891,168

Cass

9,277128,1431,238

Cavalier

1751,278982

Dickey

2551,722873

Divide

1268211,294

Dunn

2272,0581,504

Eddy

105723770

Emmons

160951896

Foster

1751,594991

Golden Valley

96627870

Grand Forks

2,69540,2401,095

Grant

108618913

Griggs

110826874

Hettinger

143709986

Kidder

126819856

LaMoure

2291,354887

Logan

112618689

McHenry

2381,4071,052

McIntosh

1401,008838

McKenzie

83211,4571,666

McLean

3853,4341,262

Mercer

3214,3341,538

Morton

1,19512,3191,037

Mountrail

5195,4491,393

Nelson

1841,030807

Oliver

676991,625

Pembina

4003,4961,064

Pierce

2061,596894

Ramsey

5145,530947

Ransom

2611,987863

Renville

155762960

Richland

6848,047989

Rolette

2834,501899

Sargent

1852,8341,198

Sheridan

51244641

Sioux

751,493991

Slope

1377948

Stark

1,55619,5001,334

Steele

835451,110

Stutsman

89611,1421,036

Towner

96686853

Traill

4123,6831,072

Walsh

5225,134998

Ward

2,69231,3371,138

Wells

2081,508855

Williams

2,14226,8501,672

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 2023
StateEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,026.4153,772.81.51,334--0.1--

Alabama

157.72,079.61.81,121350.424

Alaska

25.4335.43.11,328151.82

Arizona

223.13,163.82.11,24820-0.233

Arkansas

103.11,284.31.41,036500.030

California

1,785.318,102.20.21,61340.812

Colorado

261.92,888.72.31,4318-0.540

Connecticut

150.01,679.01.41,4806-0.642

Delaware

42.3472.52.11,26918-1.651

District of Columbia

52.1758.70.82,15911.44

Florida

894.29,668.62.51,21825-0.131

Georgia

392.54,807.31.51,24919-0.233

Hawaii

57.4627.90.71,226231.18

Idaho

95.3852.72.11,068460.519

Illinois

411.36,044.10.81,34612-1.048

Indiana

192.33,175.61.01,11536-0.745

Iowa

110.51,559.71.01,11237-0.642

Kansas

99.71,419.71.31,087430.325

Kentucky

152.21,985.42.01,092421.011

Louisiana

155.41,886.60.51,107400.615

Maine

64.9649.11.51,129341.18

Maryland

190.12,689.70.81,42490.519

Massachusetts

295.83,653.50.51,6433-0.745

Michigan

325.54,422.21.91,22822-0.540

Minnesota

206.42,923.51.41,32914-1.350

Mississippi

88.31,163.10.992751-0.642

Missouri

250.42,894.11.51,152310.325

Montana

66.9513.21.51,072451.26

Nebraska

78.31,014.02.31,11138-0.437

Nevada

107.51,537.82.81,20127-0.336

New Hampshire

66.3687.61.41,35011-1.249

New Jersey

326.84,256.91.91,4567-0.437

New Mexico

67.9857.21.61,096411.18

New York

701.89,525.51.71,61050.228

North Carolina

375.64,835.12.01,222241.26

North Dakota

35.8428.31.91,205261.35

Ohio

344.45,488.11.31,18530-0.131

Oklahoma

131.11,684.92.11,052480.519

Oregon

203.42,001.81.01,301160.519

Pennsylvania

392.55,996.01.31,28317-0.947

Rhode Island

48.2495.11.61,234210.714

South Carolina

179.72,256.42.61,086440.615

South Dakota

39.8457.62.01,058470.615

Tennessee

221.23,216.10.41,199280.129

Texas

831.913,731.12.61,336130.325

Utah

137.21,706.12.31,195290.812

Vermont

32.4306.51.41,14132-0.233

Virginia

315.84,053.61.81,383100.519

Washington

242.63,618.11.31,68221.53

West Virginia

59.1695.31.81,044490.615

Wisconsin

206.22,938.61.01,13333-0.437

Wyoming

30.6285.22.11,111382.41

Puerto Rico

53.6940.21.6633(3)2.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.835.11.9953(3)-4.0(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: Tuesday, March 19, 2024