Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties and county equivalent in Missouri from September 2023 to September 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 Greene County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 1.8 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 Missouri, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Greene	1.8
Jackson	1.3
St. Charles	0.8
Boone	0.5
Clay	0.3
St. Louis	0.2
St. Louis City	-0.3

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the seven largest counties in Missouri, employment was highest in St. Louis County (595,900) in September 2024. Within St. Louis County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest Missouri counties accounted for 60.1 percent of total covered 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 108 counties in Missouri with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 108 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All seven large Missouri counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Boone County had the largest gain (+5.6 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Missouri’s other six large counties ranged from 4.5 percent to 3.2 percent.

  

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

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
Boone	5.6
Jackson	4.5
St. Charles	4.3
St. Louis City	4.2
Greene	4.1
Clay	3.9
St. Louis	3.2

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

Weekly wages in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in three large counties ranked among the top half nationwide: St. Louis City ($1,498, 59^th), St. Louis ($1,374, 105^th), and Jackson ($1,354, 113^th).

Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Among the 108 smaller counties in Missouri—those with employment below 75,000—Buchanan ($1,123) reported the highest average weekly wage. Ozark County ($610) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state, followed by Ripley County ($611).

When all 115 counties in Missouri were considered, 36 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 41 registered wages from $800 to $899, 24 had wages from $900 to $999, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.) The higher-paying counties were mainly located in and around the major metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City.