Employment rose in 15 of the 16 largest counties in New York with published data 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.) Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted that the percentage increase in employment for five of these largest counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide. (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 New York, June 2024

County	Percent change, June 2024
Kings	4.0
Queens	2.9
Saratoga	2.1
Rockland	1.9
Bronx	1.7
Broome	1.1
Onondaga	1.0
Erie	0.9
Nassau	0.9
Westchester	0.8
Albany	0.6
New York	0.5
Oneida	0.5
Monroe	0.4
Suffolk	0.4
Orange	-0.1

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 18 largest counties in New York, employment was highest in New York County (2,459,900) in June 2024. Within New York County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 18 largest New York counties accounted for 86.3 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 44 counties in New York with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 42 of the 44 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All 16 New York large counties with published data reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Albany and Westchester had the largest gains (+5.3 percent each). Over-the-year wage gains among New York’s other 14 large counties ranged from 4.6 percent to 0.4 percent.

  

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

County	Percent change, second quarter 2024
Albany	5.3
Westchester	5.3
New York	4.6
Suffolk	4.3
Monroe	4.1
Broome	3.8
Onondaga	3.8
Nassau	3.6
Bronx	3.1
Orange	2.9
Erie	2.7
Oneida	2.5
Kings	2.4
Queens	1.8
Rockland	1.5
Saratoga	0.4

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published wage change 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 5 of the 18 largest counties in New York were above the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in three of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide: New York ($2,721, 4^th), Westchester ($1,754, 18^th), and Albany ($1,527, 45^th).

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 44 smaller counties in New York—those with employment below 75,000—Rensselaer ($1,496) and Schenectady ($1,465) reported average weekly wages above the national average. Yates ($942) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 62 counties in New York were considered, 19 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,100, 15 registered wages from $1,100 to $1,199, 15 had wages from $1,200 to $1,299, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,300 or higher. (See map 1.)