Employment rose in all five of the largest counties in Utah 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.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Washington County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.3 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 Utah, March 2024

County	Percent change, March 2024
Washington	3.3
Salt Lake	2.0
Davis	1.8
Weber	1.8
Utah	1.2

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 five largest counties in Utah, employment was highest in Salt Lake County (790,500) in March 2024. Within Salt Lake County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the five largest Utah counties accounted for 84.3 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 24 counties in Utah with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of the 24 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All five large Utah counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Salt Lake County had the largest gain (+5.7 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other four large counties in Utah ranged from 4.9 percent to 4.4 percent.

  

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

County	Percent change, first quarter 2024
Salt Lake	5.7
Davis	4.9
Utah	4.5
Weber	4.5
Washington	4.4

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).

Weekly wages in 4 of the 5 largest counties in Utah were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. The average weekly wage in Salt Lake County ($1,546) ranked 82^nd among the 369 largest counties nationwide. In the four remaining large counties, average weekly wages ranged from $1,231 to $900, placing them in the bottom half of the rankings.

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).

Among the 24 smaller counties in Utah—those with employment below 75,000—all reported weekly wages below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Summit County ($1,237) reported the highest average weekly wage among the small counties. Piute County reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state at $688.

When all 29 counties in Utah were considered, 7 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 9 registered wages from $850 to $999, 8 had wages from $1,000 to $1,149, and 5 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)

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.