Employment rose in three of the four largest counties in Kansas from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)  Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Wyandotte County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 2.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Kansas, June 2024

County	Percent change, June 2024
Wyandotte	2.5
Sedgwick	1.2
Johnson	0.1
Shawnee	0.0

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Among the four largest counties in Kansas, employment was highest in Johnson County (373,100) in June 2024. Within Johnson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the four largest Kansas counties accounted for 58.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 101 counties in Kansas with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 100 of the 101 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All four large Kansas counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Shawnee County had the largest gain (+5.0 percent), followed by Johnson County (+3.9 percent), Sedgwick County (+3.8 percent), and Wyandotte County (+1.9 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Kansas, second quarter 2024

County	Percent change, second quarter 2024
Shawnee	5.0
Johnson	3.9
Sedgwick	3.8
Wyandotte	1.9

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Weekly wages in all four of the largest counties in Kansas were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. The average weekly wage in Johnson County ($1,370, 95^th) was ranked in the upper half of large counties nationwide. The remaining three counties—Wyandotte ($1,221, 182^nd), Shawnee ($1,122, 274^th), and Sedgwick ($1,117, 278^th)—ranked among the lower half of large counties nationwide.

Among the 360 largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Among the 101 smaller counties in Kansas—those with employment below 75,000—only Coffey ($1,462) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Jewell County ($676) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 105 counties in Kansas were considered, 21 reported average weekly wages of $799 or less, 37 registered wages from $800 to $899, 37 had wages from $900 to $999, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were primarily located in and around the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita.

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.

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