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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
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 -- 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Ohio

337.0 5,452.8 0.8 -- 1,315 25 4.0 24

Butler

9.0 161.3 2.4 46 1,290 191 6.5 21

Cuyahoga

38.8 698.8 0.6 245 1,528 85 5.4 40

Delaware

7.1 94.9 1.7 109 1,517 87 2.8 270

Franklin

39.3 769.6 1.2 173 1,457 104 3.6 200

Greene

4.1 79.4 2.4 46 1,433 115 5.1 55

Hamilton

26.8 511.1 0.1 295 1,572 74 3.9 165

Lake

6.7 96.6 -0.1 308 1,151 295 4.4 117

Lorain

6.9 96.7 0.7 234 1,084 332 3.5 209

Lucas

10.8 194.2 -1.0 357 1,261 211 3.2 236

Mahoning

6.2 92.9 0.7 234 1,005 355 4.7 92

Montgomery

13.1 248.6 0.8 217 1,208 246 2.4 300

Stark

9.4 156.0 2.5 41 1,085 331 3.2 236

Summit

15.6 258.3 -0.5 336 1,288 192 5.1 55

Warren

6.4 98.9 1.1 187 1,357 153 8.0 8

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
Area Establishments Employment March 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000 153,585,576 1,527

Ohio

336,986 5,452,794 1,315

Adams

658 6,657 1,010

Allen

2,550 49,152 1,146

Ashland

1,221 18,631 925

Ashtabula

2,235 29,289 917

Athens

1,339 20,853 913

Auglaize

1,110 21,831 1,117

Belmont

1,634 20,285 950

Brown

746 7,929 809

Butler

9,019 161,293 1,290

Carroll

554 6,063 916

Champaign

738 10,528 993

Clark

2,590 47,113 1,004

Clermont

4,998 61,545 1,152

Clinton

954 19,047 1,253

Columbiana

2,215 28,102 938

Coshocton

736 9,678 995

Crawford

943 12,577 935

Cuyahoga

38,765 698,768 1,528

Darke

1,345 17,986 950

Defiance

937 15,397 1,063

Delaware

7,057 94,877 1,517

Erie

2,042 34,053 1,021

Fairfield

3,438 46,399 977

Fayette

682 11,185 962

Franklin

39,346 769,635 1,457

Fulton

1,136 17,911 1,060

Gallia

741 11,398 939

Geauga

3,181 35,628 1,097

Greene

4,114 79,437 1,433

Guernsey

975 14,422 998

Hamilton

26,817 511,129 1,572

Hancock

1,944 44,178 1,428

Hardin

558 7,662 956

Harrison

340 3,730 1,191

Henry

684 10,384 1,013

Highland

834 11,123 842

Hocking

578 7,401 740

Holmes

1,521 21,164 980

Huron

1,403 21,154 980

Jackson

739 10,301 859

Jefferson

1,389 20,313 926

Knox

1,315 20,506 1,039

Lake

6,735 96,569 1,151

Lawrence

998 13,664 921

Licking

3,921 68,986 1,101

Logan

1,018 19,135 1,004

Lorain

6,861 96,713 1,084

Lucas

10,836 194,177 1,261

Madison

1,033 23,195 1,009

Mahoning

6,197 92,911 1,005

Marion

1,238 23,006 1,040

Medina

5,139 61,641 1,141

Meigs

356 3,455 777

Mercer

1,206 20,283 945

Miami

2,581 41,091 1,053

Monroe

375 2,906 882

Montgomery

13,098 248,551 1,208

Morgan

232 2,936 927

Morrow

569 5,285 843

Muskingum

1,940 34,664 1,012

Noble

284 3,055 1,001

Ottawa

1,212 12,817 1,165

Paulding

412 4,910 943

Perry

589 6,236 952

Pickaway

1,062 15,726 1,073

Pike

591 10,400 1,214

Portage

3,709 56,391 1,121

Preble

796 11,357 1,074

Putnam

860 12,456 963

Richland

2,879 48,753 957

Ross

1,521 29,527 1,109

Sandusky

1,451 24,938 1,013

Scioto

1,490 25,036 935

Seneca

1,238 18,976 978

Shelby

1,119 26,421 1,110

Stark

9,354 155,972 1,085

Summit

15,634 258,343 1,288

Trumbull

4,413 64,888 1,000

Tuscarawas

2,418 36,801 978

Union

1,545 33,497 1,241

Van Wert

653 11,560 938

Vinton

209 2,226 845

Warren

6,353 98,910 1,357

Washington

1,639 24,916 1,140

Wayne

2,984 48,088 1,056

Williams

908 16,170 1,006

Wood

3,424 75,621 1,162

Wyandot

587 10,217 1,037

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
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Alabama

160.7 2,091.9 1.6 1,201 37 3.3 44

Alaska

25.2 318.1 2.2 1,374 22 5.6 2

Arizona

229.4 3,257.0 2.9 1,372 23 3.1 46

Arkansas

104.6 1,292.8 1.4 1,171 44 4.0 24

California

1,835.8 18,053.0 1.5 1,833 5 5.5 3

Colorado

264.4 2,851.4 0.3 1,613 8 3.5 38

Connecticut

149.5 1,661.9 1.0 1,908 4 4.4 18

Delaware

43.0 469.3 1.8 1,484 15 3.7 33

District of Columbia

52.3 759.8 0.7 2,434 1 4.0 24

Florida

898.9 9,863.2 2.1 1,384 20 4.2 20

Georgia

401.4 4,843.9 1.3 1,441 17 4.7 12

Hawaii

58.6 638.8 0.6 1,278 29 4.8 10

Idaho

98.5 835.8 1.9 1,130 47 4.1 22

Illinois

410.2 5,966.9 0.3 1,608 9 2.7 50

Indiana

195.2 3,148.3 0.6 1,271 30 5.7 1

Iowa

110.8 1,543.1 0.9 1,214 36 3.2 45

Kansas

100.7 1,415.7 0.7 1,199 38 3.8 32

Kentucky

155.8 1,987.2 1.4 1,178 42 3.4 43

Louisiana

154.5 1,904.2 0.7 1,195 39 4.0 24

Maine

65.0 626.4 1.3 1,249 34 5.2 4

Maryland

198.4 2,690.0 0.8 1,591 10 4.5 16

Massachusetts

287.4 3,599.0 0.5 2,015 3 4.9 8

Michigan

338.6 4,351.0 1.0 1,352 24 3.5 38

Minnesota

210.5 2,850.4 0.2 1,519 14 4.0 24

Mississippi

89.5 1,157.2 0.2 980 51 3.6 36

Missouri

257.5 2,882.5 1.0 1,269 31 3.7 33

Montana

61.8 503.1 1.2 1,126 49 4.4 18

Nebraska

76.0 1,007.3 1.5 1,195 39 2.6 51

Nevada

112.1 1,534.4 2.4 1,304 28 4.7 12

New Hampshire

65.9 680.0 1.1 1,531 13 4.7 12

New Jersey

335.6 4,218.8 1.3 1,761 7 3.5 38

New Mexico

67.9 861.5 1.6 1,159 45 4.8 10

New York

709.5 9,537.4 1.8 2,089 2 3.5 38

North Carolina

395.7 4,871.0 1.8 1,401 18 4.0 24

North Dakota

36.1 419.9 1.6 1,261 33 3.7 33

Ohio

337.0 5,452.8 0.8 1,315 25 4.0 24

Oklahoma

132.9 1,690.0 1.7 1,152 46 4.0 24

Oregon

198.9 1,971.9 -0.3 1,377 21 3.1 46

Pennsylvania

392.0 5,967.0 1.1 1,449 16 3.0 48

Rhode Island

48.5 483.9 1.1 1,387 19 4.0 24

South Carolina

184.6 2,265.9 2.1 1,194 41 4.9 8

South Dakota

39.9 449.7 2.0 1,129 48 4.2 20

Tennessee

230.1 3,261.3 1.9 1,311 27 3.5 38

Texas

839.6 13,826.9 1.7 1,540 12 4.1 22

Utah

135.7 1,699.6 1.9 1,313 26 5.2 4

Vermont

32.8 307.3 0.6 1,232 35 3.6 36

Virginia

318.3 4,072.6 1.6 1,554 11 5.2 4

Washington

224.3 3,577.3 1.3 1,815 6 5.1 7

West Virginia

60.8 694.0 1.6 1,110 50 4.6 15

Wisconsin

206.0 2,899.1 0.6 1,263 32 4.5 16

Wyoming

30.8 274.1 1.1 1,177 43 2.8 49

Puerto Rico

54.7 952.8 1.6 677 (3) 4.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.5 0.9 996 (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