Employment rose in Maine’s two large counties, Cumberland and York, 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.) Regional William J. Sibley noted that York County’s employment gain ranked 105^th among the 369 large U.S. counties. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with gains recorded in 264 of the 362 largest U.S. counties with published data. 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).

Employment in Cumberland County was 192,500 in September 2024; York County reported 81,600 employed. Within Cumberland County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment share. Together, the two largest Maine counties accounted for 41.7 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 14 counties in Maine with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all of these smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

The two largest Maine counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. The 5.5-percent wage increase in York County ranked 44^th among the 365 largest U.S. counties with published data. Cumberland County’s 2.2-percent wage increase ranked 344^th.

Nationwide, wages increased 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).

Cumberland County’s average weekly wage of $1,282 was below the national average of $1,394 and ranked 162^nd among the 369 large U.S. counties in the third quarter of 2024. York County’s average weekly wage of $1,177 ranked 233^rd.

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 14 smaller counties in Maine—those with employment below 75,000—Sagadahoc ($1,199) reported the highest average weekly wage. Franklin County ($905) and Piscataquis County ($920) reported the lowest average weekly wages in the state.

When all 16 counties in Maine were considered, two had wages of $949 or lower, seven had wages from $950 to $1,024, two had wages from $1,025 to $1,099, two had wages from $1,100 to $1,174, and three had wages of $1,175 or higher. (See map 1.) The highest-paid counties were located in the southwest portion of the state within the Portland-South Portland metropolitan area.