Employment rose in 9 of the 11 largest counties in Georgia from June 2022 to June 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Clayton County and Hall County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 6.3 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. (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 Georgia, June 2023

County	Percent change, June 2023
Clayton	6.3
Hall	5.5
Forsyth	3.4
Gwinnett	2.6
Chatham	2.4
Cobb	2.1
Fulton	1.9
DeKalb	1.8
Richmond	0.7
Muscogee	-0.1
Bibb	-1.2

National employment increased 2.4 percent over the year, with 337 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+7.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.7 percent).

Among the 11 largest counties in Georgia, employment was highest in Fulton County (941,100) in June 2023. Within Fulton County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 11 largest Georgia counties accounted for 57.8 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 148 counties in Georgia with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 147 of the 148 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Among Georgia’s largest counties, six reported average weekly wage gains above the national average of 3.2 percent from the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. Clayton county had the largest gain (+17.2 percent) and ranked first nationwide. (See chart 2.)

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Georgia, second quarter 2023

County	Percent change, second quarter 2023
Clayton	17.2
Cobb	4.9
Chatham	4.7
Muscogee	3.6
Bibb	3.4
Gwinnett	3.4
Fulton	0.8
Richmond	0.3
Hall	-1.6
DeKalb*
Forsyth*
Note: An asterisk indicates data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 332 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+17.2 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-13.2 percent).

Average weekly wages in 4 of the 11 largest counties in Georgia were above the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. Fulton county reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,720, 16^th) and ranked among the top 20 counties nationwide. Cobb County ($1,390, 69^th), Clayton County ($1,388, 70^th), and DeKalb County ($1,373, 75^th) also had average weekly wages above the national average.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 88 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,321). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 272 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($795).

Among the 148 smaller counties in Georgia—those with employment below 75,000—Burke ($1,682) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Taliaferro County ($644) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 159 counties in Georgia were considered, 41 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 57 registered wages from $800 to $899, 33 had wages from $900 to $999, 18 had wages of $1,000 to $1,099, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)