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News Release Information

24-1118-CHI
Friday, June 21, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Illinois — Fourth Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 9 of the 11 largest counties in Illinois for which data were available 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 McLean County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.4 percent. (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 13 largest counties in Illinois, employment was highest in Cook County (2,581,000) in December 2023. Within Cook County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 13 largest Illinois counties accounted for 80.1 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 89 counties in Illinois with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 87 of the 89 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All 13 large Illinois counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Lake County had the largest gain (+6.0 percent), followed by Champaign County (+5.3 percent) and Sangamon County (+4.3 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Illinois’ other 10 large counties ranged from 4.0 percent to 0.3 percent.


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 3 of the 13 largest counties in Illinois were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in these counties ranked among the top 75 nationwide: Lake ($1,863, 14th), Cook ($1,651, 35th), and DuPage ($1,527, 60th).

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 89 smaller counties in Illinois—those with employment below 75,000—Rock Island ($1,679) and Putnam ($1,675) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Calhoun County ($610) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 102 counties in Illinois were considered, 22 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 26 registered wages from $900 to $999, 27 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 13 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Illinois, 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 13 largest counties in Illinois, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 -- 1,435 -- 3.6 --

Illinois

410.6 6,051.9 0.8 -- 1,479 12 3.4 32

Champaign

4.3 94.8 0.9 221 1,175 257 5.3 34

Cook

142.9 2,581.0 0.6 261 1,651 35 3.3 201

DuPage

35.2 624.7 (5) - 1,527 60 2.1 296

Kane

13.2 214.5 (5) - 1,240 208 4.0 111

Lake

20.6 326.5 0.2 298 1,863 14 6.0 19

McHenry

8.1 96.2 0.7 246 1,077 323 0.9 334

McLean

3.4 90.1 2.4 61 1,213 224 1.4 320

Madison

5.5 103.9 -0.2 330 1,103 315 2.2 286

Peoria

4.1 103.8 1.0 213 1,363 124 2.3 280

St. Clair

5.0 91.1 0.9 221 1,105 313 3.8 135

Sangamon

5.0 128.8 0.2 298 1,305 167 4.3 89

Will

16.4 265.1 -0.1 326 1,170 261 0.3 345

Winnebago

6.0 126.4 0.5 268 1,146 281 1.9 306

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.
(5) Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

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 Illinois, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment December 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,090,132 154,848,113 1,435

Illinois

410,615 6,051,872 1,479

Adams

1,767 32,350 1,092

Alexander

93 892 887

Bond

318 4,521 952

Boone

901 11,610 1,084

Brown

135 4,761 1,262

Bureau

787 10,097 1,009

Calhoun

94 726 610

Carroll

415 3,918 939

Cass

271 5,496 1,046

Champaign

4,250 94,827 1,175

Christian

734 9,314 972

Clark

335 4,407 868

Clay

317 4,698 959

Clinton

938 12,268 997

Coles

1,047 23,802 952

Cook

142,851 2,581,000 1,651

Crawford

428 7,371 1,142

Cumberland

188 3,004 1,011

De Kalb

2,029 36,028 1,104

De Witt

360 4,976 1,326

Douglas

618 7,729 1,059

Du Page

35,187 624,738 1,527

Edgar

355 7,100 1,053

Edwards

156 2,081 932

Effingham

1,244 23,543 1,034

Fayette

469 4,987 884

Ford

365 5,565 1,110

Franklin

722 8,840 877

Fulton

667 8,350 874

Gallatin

129 913 976

Greene

248 2,276 868

Grundy

1,215 21,570 1,330

Hamilton

205 2,054 1,042

Hancock

425 4,113 892

Hardin

58 793 816

Henderson

145 1,171 756

Henry

1,046 13,624 1,033

Iroquois

705 7,241 987

Jackson

1,154 24,566 1,035

Jasper

238 2,163 980

Jefferson

870 19,277 1,071

Jersey

405 5,193 875

Jo Daviess

767 7,279 1,001

Johnson

194 2,404 1,009

Kane

13,183 214,532 1,240

Kankakee

2,261 42,064 1,069

Kendall

2,498 30,388 982

Knox

1,001 16,827 899

Lake

20,640 326,506 1,863

La Salle

2,514 39,598 1,114

Lawrence

261 3,866 1,009

Lee

710 12,653 1,095

Livingston

874 14,084 1,090

Logan

557 7,984 1,070

McDonough

569 10,221 900

McHenry

8,087 96,217 1,077

McLean

3,398 90,069 1,213

Macon

2,013 44,939 1,222

Macoupin

906 10,132 961

Madison

5,497 103,892 1,103

Marion

830 12,735 937

Marshall

252 2,801 966

Mason

311 2,773 827

Massac

205 2,886 975

Menard

220 1,748 895

Mercer

315 3,346 819

Monroe

848 8,470 952

Montgomery

715 8,740 920

Morgan

722 13,783 1,017

Moultrie

340 5,009 1,008

Ogle

1,056 14,972 1,149

Peoria

4,078 103,784 1,363

Perry

325 4,522 966

Piatt

390 3,721 937

Pike

413 3,903 943

Pope

47 671 706

Pulaski

108 1,181 878

Putnam

169 1,901 1,675

Randolph

621 11,321 1,109

Richland

403 5,963 932

Rock Island

2,963 71,903 1,679

St. Clair

4,985 91,086 1,105

Saline

508 8,331 873

Sangamon

5,033 128,833 1,305

Schuyler

171 1,495 932

Scott

102 879 869

Shelby

479 4,744 924

Stark

143 1,567 1,137

Stephenson

1,028 17,063 1,081

Tazewell

2,614 46,942 1,062

Union

324 5,292 895

Vermilion

1,347 25,548 1,010

Wabash

277 3,381 1,028

Warren

383 6,381 924

Washington

409 6,356 1,243

Wayne

389 4,039 826

White

350 4,175 891

Whiteside

1,200 21,019 1,000

Will

16,393 265,066 1,170

Williamson

1,406 28,754 996

Winnebago

6,043 126,446 1,146

Woodford

809 11,373 1,176

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 2023
State Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 1,435 -- 3.6 --

Alabama

159.1 2,101.1 2.0 1,207 35 4.2 15

Alaska

25.2 311.6 2.4 1,372 16 5.5 2

Arizona

226.4 3,231.4 2.2 1,322 21 3.8 21

Arkansas

103.2 1,294.0 1.4 1,089 50 2.1 49

California

1,792.2 18,111.4 0.2 1,759 4 4.8 9

Colorado

263.2 2,930.1 2.5 1,516 9 3.0 38

Connecticut

151.0 1,690.0 1.3 1,632 6 2.4 46

Delaware

43.2 472.9 1.3 1,373 15 2.2 47

District of Columbia

52.6 759.9 0.7 2,385 1 4.1 16

Florida

904.4 9,870.1 2.5 1,328 20 3.4 32

Georgia

391.7 4,866.4 1.3 1,331 19 3.5 30

Hawaii

58.3 643.3 0.8 1,288 24 5.0 7

Idaho

96.3 854.9 3.5 1,137 46 1.9 50

Illinois

410.6 6,051.9 0.8 1,479 12 3.4 32

Indiana

191.4 3,187.1 0.9 1,171 41 3.6 26

Iowa

110.7 1,564.0 1.0 1,199 36 4.0 18

Kansas

100.1 1,431.8 1.1 1,167 42 3.7 25

Kentucky

154.0 2,004.4 1.8 1,146 45 4.1 16

Louisiana

154.2 1,905.4 0.8 1,193 37 5.3 5

Maine

64.8 636.8 1.4 1,209 34 3.8 21

Maryland

193.8 2,730.4 2.3 1,509 10 3.1 36

Massachusetts

292.9 3,655.4 0.8 1,805 2 0.7 51

Michigan

330.9 4,407.8 1.2 1,316 22 3.3 34

Minnesota

209.2 2,909.9 1.2 1,400 14 3.1 36

Mississippi

89.1 1,170.9 0.7 983 51 3.8 21

Missouri

253.9 2,906.3 1.6 1,222 33 4.3 14

Montana

68.2 510.0 1.8 1,178 40 5.4 3

Nebraska

76.8 1,018.5 2.0 1,187 39 2.9 40

Nevada

108.5 1,556.7 3.6 1,271 28 2.2 47

New Hampshire

67.1 689.2 1.4 1,527 8 2.8 41

New Jersey

333.8 4,293.1 1.3 1,574 7 2.6 44

New Mexico

68.6 868.3 2.3 1,165 43 4.9 8

New York

699.7 9,627.1 1.7 1,783 3 2.8 41

North Carolina

383.8 4,917.9 2.5 1,280 27 3.6 26

North Dakota

36.1 427.0 2.7 1,267 29 5.2 6

Ohio

333.9 5,514.5 1.1 1,245 31 3.6 26

Oklahoma

132.6 1,697.1 1.9 1,123 49 4.7 11

Oregon

206.1 1,985.5 1.0 1,338 18 2.8 41

Pennsylvania

392.4 6,023.4 1.2 1,360 17 3.0 38

Rhode Island

48.3 492.3 1.3 1,302 23 3.3 34

South Carolina

180.8 2,278.0 2.6 1,153 44 3.8 21

South Dakota

40.0 456.0 2.5 1,136 47 3.6 26

Tennessee

225.9 3,276.9 1.6 1,285 25 2.5 45

Texas

835.1 13,905.4 2.3 1,427 13 4.0 18

Utah

139.0 1,713.5 2.1 1,285 25 4.5 13

Vermont

32.6 310.3 1.5 1,250 30 3.5 30

Virginia

316.7 4,089.8 1.7 1,482 11 4.7 11

Washington

243.0 3,590.9 1.6 1,742 5 6.7 1

West Virginia

59.9 693.5 1.2 1,126 48 5.4 3

Wisconsin

208.0 2,936.6 1.0 1,233 32 3.9 20

Wyoming

30.8 277.4 1.5 1,191 38 4.8 9

Puerto Rico

54.4 975.7 0.0 688 (3) 3.3 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.2 1.6 1,024 (3) 0.7 (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, June 21, 2024