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News Release Information

24-1897-CHI
Friday, October 04, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Ohio — First Quarter 2024

Employment rose in 11 of the 14 largest counties in Ohio from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that Stark County (+2.5 percent), Butler County (+2.4 percent), and Greene County (+2.4 percent) had the largest over-the-year increases in employment. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Among the 14 largest counties in Ohio, employment was highest in Franklin (769,600) in March 2024. Within Franklin County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 14 largest Ohio counties accounted for 65.2 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 counties in Ohio with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 74 of the smaller counties were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All 14 large Ohio counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Warren County had the largest gain (+8.0 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Ohio’s other 13 large counties ranged from 6.5 percent to 2.4 percent.


Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Average weekly wages in Hamilton County and Cuyahoga County were above the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in 3 of the 14 large counties ranked among the top 100 nationwide: Hamilton ($1,572, 74th), Cuyahoga ($1,528, 85th), and Delaware ($1,517, 87th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Smaller county average weekly wages

All 74 smaller counties in Ohio—those with employment below 75,000— reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Hocking County ($740) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 88 counties in Ohio were considered, 6 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 16 registered wages from $850 to $949, 30 had wages from $950 to $1,049, 17 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 19 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Ohio, first quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,527)

 
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 second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Changes for the 2024 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2023 are included in this release and will be included in future 2024 releases. Seven counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Martin, FL; Sarpy, NE; Doña Ana, NM; Kent, RI; Ector, TX; Gregg, TX; and Racine, WI. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions, and those for other types of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), were announced in July 2023. With the full data update for first quarter 2024 on September 4, 2024, QCEW data reflect the new definitions. Data based on the new area definitions are available in the BLS online database. Historical data will not be re-tabulated to reflect the new definitions. The announcement regarding new metropolitan statistical area delineations for 2024 provides more information regarding the new area definitions.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 14 largest counties in Ohio, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,169.0153,585.61.3--1,527--4.2--

Ohio

337.05,452.80.8--1,315254.024

Butler

9.0161.32.4461,2901916.521

Cuyahoga

38.8698.80.62451,528855.440

Delaware

7.194.91.71091,517872.8270

Franklin

39.3769.61.21731,4571043.6200

Greene

4.179.42.4461,4331155.155

Hamilton

26.8511.10.12951,572743.9165

Lake

6.796.6-0.13081,1512954.4117

Lorain

6.996.70.72341,0843323.5209

Lucas

10.8194.2-1.03571,2612113.2236

Mahoning

6.292.90.72341,0053554.792

Montgomery

13.1248.60.82171,2082462.4300

Stark

9.4156.02.5411,0853313.2236

Summit

15.6258.3-0.53361,2881925.155

Warren

6.498.91.11871,3571538.08

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 Ohio, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment March 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000153,585,5761,527

Ohio

336,9865,452,7941,315

Adams

6586,6571,010

Allen

2,55049,1521,146

Ashland

1,22118,631925

Ashtabula

2,23529,289917

Athens

1,33920,853913

Auglaize

1,11021,8311,117

Belmont

1,63420,285950

Brown

7467,929809

Butler

9,019161,2931,290

Carroll

5546,063916

Champaign

73810,528993

Clark

2,59047,1131,004

Clermont

4,99861,5451,152

Clinton

95419,0471,253

Columbiana

2,21528,102938

Coshocton

7369,678995

Crawford

94312,577935

Cuyahoga

38,765698,7681,528

Darke

1,34517,986950

Defiance

93715,3971,063

Delaware

7,05794,8771,517

Erie

2,04234,0531,021

Fairfield

3,43846,399977

Fayette

68211,185962

Franklin

39,346769,6351,457

Fulton

1,13617,9111,060

Gallia

74111,398939

Geauga

3,18135,6281,097

Greene

4,11479,4371,433

Guernsey

97514,422998

Hamilton

26,817511,1291,572

Hancock

1,94444,1781,428

Hardin

5587,662956

Harrison

3403,7301,191

Henry

68410,3841,013

Highland

83411,123842

Hocking

5787,401740

Holmes

1,52121,164980

Huron

1,40321,154980

Jackson

73910,301859

Jefferson

1,38920,313926

Knox

1,31520,5061,039

Lake

6,73596,5691,151

Lawrence

99813,664921

Licking

3,92168,9861,101

Logan

1,01819,1351,004

Lorain

6,86196,7131,084

Lucas

10,836194,1771,261

Madison

1,03323,1951,009

Mahoning

6,19792,9111,005

Marion

1,23823,0061,040

Medina

5,13961,6411,141

Meigs

3563,455777

Mercer

1,20620,283945

Miami

2,58141,0911,053

Monroe

3752,906882

Montgomery

13,098248,5511,208

Morgan

2322,936927

Morrow

5695,285843

Muskingum

1,94034,6641,012

Noble

2843,0551,001

Ottawa

1,21212,8171,165

Paulding

4124,910943

Perry

5896,236952

Pickaway

1,06215,7261,073

Pike

59110,4001,214

Portage

3,70956,3911,121

Preble

79611,3571,074

Putnam

86012,456963

Richland

2,87948,753957

Ross

1,52129,5271,109

Sandusky

1,45124,9381,013

Scioto

1,49025,036935

Seneca

1,23818,976978

Shelby

1,11926,4211,110

Stark

9,354155,9721,085

Summit

15,634258,3431,288

Trumbull

4,41364,8881,000

Tuscarawas

2,41836,801978

Union

1,54533,4971,241

Van Wert

65311,560938

Vinton

2092,226845

Warren

6,35398,9101,357

Washington

1,63924,9161,140

Wayne

2,98448,0881,056

Williams

90816,1701,006

Wood

3,42475,6211,162

Wyandot

58710,2171,037

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, first quarter 2024
StateEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,169.0153,585.61.31,527--4.2--

Alabama

160.72,091.91.61,201373.344

Alaska

25.2318.12.21,374225.62

Arizona

229.43,257.02.91,372233.146

Arkansas

104.61,292.81.41,171444.024

California

1,835.818,053.01.51,83355.53

Colorado

264.42,851.40.31,61383.538

Connecticut

149.51,661.91.01,90844.418

Delaware

43.0469.31.81,484153.733

District of Columbia

52.3759.80.72,43414.024

Florida

898.99,863.22.11,384204.220

Georgia

401.44,843.91.31,441174.712

Hawaii

58.6638.80.61,278294.810

Idaho

98.5835.81.91,130474.122

Illinois

410.25,966.90.31,60892.750

Indiana

195.23,148.30.61,271305.71

Iowa

110.81,543.10.91,214363.245

Kansas

100.71,415.70.71,199383.832

Kentucky

155.81,987.21.41,178423.443

Louisiana

154.51,904.20.71,195394.024

Maine

65.0626.41.31,249345.24

Maryland

198.42,690.00.81,591104.516

Massachusetts

287.43,599.00.52,01534.98

Michigan

338.64,351.01.01,352243.538

Minnesota

210.52,850.40.21,519144.024

Mississippi

89.51,157.20.2980513.636

Missouri

257.52,882.51.01,269313.733

Montana

61.8503.11.21,126494.418

Nebraska

76.01,007.31.51,195392.651

Nevada

112.11,534.42.41,304284.712

New Hampshire

65.9680.01.11,531134.712

New Jersey

335.64,218.81.31,76173.538

New Mexico

67.9861.51.61,159454.810

New York

709.59,537.41.82,08923.538

North Carolina

395.74,871.01.81,401184.024

North Dakota

36.1419.91.61,261333.733

Ohio

337.05,452.80.81,315254.024

Oklahoma

132.91,690.01.71,152464.024

Oregon

198.91,971.9-0.31,377213.146

Pennsylvania

392.05,967.01.11,449163.048

Rhode Island

48.5483.91.11,387194.024

South Carolina

184.62,265.92.11,194414.98

South Dakota

39.9449.72.01,129484.220

Tennessee

230.13,261.31.91,311273.538

Texas

839.613,826.91.71,540124.122

Utah

135.71,699.61.91,313265.24

Vermont

32.8307.30.61,232353.636

Virginia

318.34,072.61.61,554115.24

Washington

224.33,577.31.31,81565.17

West Virginia

60.8694.01.61,110504.615

Wisconsin

206.02,899.10.61,263324.516

Wyoming

30.8274.11.11,177432.849

Puerto Rico

54.7952.81.6677(3)4.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.50.9996(3)1.6(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, October 04, 2024