Among Kentucky’s three largest counties, employment increased in Fayette (+4.1 percent) and Jefferson (+2.4 percent) 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 employment in Boone County declined 1.0 percent over the year. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

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 three largest counties in Kentucky, employment was highest in Jefferson County (482,900) in June 2023. Within Jefferson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the three largest Kentucky counties accounted for 39.7 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 117 counties in Kentucky with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 113 of the 117 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All three large Kentucky counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Jefferson County had the largest gain (+2.8 percent), followed by Fayette County (+2.7 percent) and Boone County (+2.5 percent).

Nationwide, wages increased by 3.2 percent over the year. 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).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in all of Kentucky’s three largest counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in Jefferson County ($1,284, 113^th) ranked in the top third nationwide.

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).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 117 smaller counties in Kentucky —those with employment below 75,000—Hancock ($1,449), Carroll ($1,379), Scott ($1,349) and Kenton ($1,333) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,332. Wolfe County ($711) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 120 counties in Kentucky were considered, 22 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 39 registered wages from $800 to $899, 31 had wages from $900 to $999, 15 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)

Additional statistics and other information

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 third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Kentucky, second quarter 2023

Area	Establishments, second quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage (1)
		June 2023 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2022–23 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Second quarter 2023	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, second quarter 2022–23 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	11,964.6	154,308.5	2.4	--	$1,332	--	3.2	--
Kentucky	150.1	1,974.5	2.8	--	1,100	38	3.0	35
Boone	5.9	103.8	-1.0	345	1,089	266	2.5	205
Fayette	14.3	197.6	4.1	29	1,173	190	2.7	185
Jefferson	32.2	482.9	2.4	133	1,284	113	2.8	179
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications. (3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Kentucky, second quarter 2023

Area	Establishments	Employment June 2023	Average weekly wage (1)
United States (2)	11,964,606	154,308,523	$1,332
Kentucky	150,128	1,974,541	1,100
Adair	480	4,664	788
Allen	396	5,093	869
Anderson	506	5,090	913
Ballard	226	2,787	874
Barren	1,241	15,930	886
Bath	252	2,057	969
Bell	592	8,494	813
Boone	5,870	103,786	1,089
Bourbon	617	6,960	997
Boyd	1,737	25,335	1,092
Boyle	1,010	14,948	935
Bracken	206	1,508	902
Breathitt	360	2,529	819
Breckinridge	422	3,821	817
Bullitt	1,668	28,692	946
Butler	287	2,949	838
Caldwell	370	4,735	806
Calloway	1,247	15,481	819
Campbell	3,108	31,060	1,048
Carlisle	134	1,014	905
Carroll	363	7,671	1,379
Carter	614	5,864	799
Casey	354	4,092	767
Christian	2,083	31,704	999
Clark	1,020	13,520	1,017
Clay	412	4,039	855
Clinton	291	3,520	719
Crittenden	204	2,002	784
Cumberland	178	2,333	811
Daviess	3,390	46,556	1,000
Edmonson	176	1,639	817
Elliott	93	852	937
Estill	249	2,342	910
Fayette	14,275	197,614	1,173
Fleming	416	3,227	887
Floyd	1,090	11,101	923
Franklin	2,645	33,828	1,094
Fulton	216	2,300	790
Gallatin	158	2,648	1,277
Garrard	383	2,757	882
Grant	580	5,290	953
Graves	1,012	11,645	936
Grayson	659	7,810	814
Green	226	1,868	818
Greenup	735	7,095	888
Hancock	225	3,730	1,449
Hardin	3,513	48,002	1,013
Harlan	513	6,109	846
Harrison	393	5,287	912
Hart	401	5,159	954
Henderson	1,378	19,056	998
Henry	377	2,824	941
Hickman	109	933	773
Hopkins	1,144	17,374	1,001
Jackson	183	1,875	753
Jefferson	32,178	482,864	1,284
Jessamine	1,820	18,591	970
Johnson	632	5,426	824
Kenton	5,573	73,268	1,333
Knott	302	2,170	771
Knox	611	8,328	796
Larue	302	2,469	818
Laurel	1,748	26,235	883
Lawrence	328	4,265	819
Lee	161	1,698	839
Leslie	176	1,682	875
Letcher	486	4,430	879
Lewis	265	1,940	829
Lincoln	477	3,930	849
Livingston	237	3,079	1,037
Logan	738	9,156	1,127
Lyon	266	2,961	799
McCracken	2,776	40,747	1,046
McCreary	280	2,826	894
McLean	240	1,748	825
Madison	2,795	35,324	981
Magoffin	259	1,862	771
Marion	500	8,959	931
Marshall	988	11,966	1,165
Martin	206	1,922	1,006
Mason	656	7,892	945
Meade	523	5,260	1,193
Menifee	119	994	781
Mercer	568	7,070	1,073
Metcalfe	242	2,128	834
Monroe	284	3,253	823
Montgomery	817	11,016	931
Morgan	263	3,034	892
Muhlenberg	719	8,153	946
Nelson	1,440	18,312	1,027
Nicholas	110	885	726
Ohio	494	7,469	812
Oldham	2,295	17,267	1,128
Owen	168	1,587	919
Owsley	93	730	757
Pendleton	270	2,281	960
Perry	916	11,531	969
Pike	1,583	19,814	979
Powell	283	3,021	741
Pulaski	2,040	26,106	878
Robertson	59	264	761
Rockcastle	266	4,086	797
Rowan	742	11,070	889
Russell	510	6,313	793
Scott	1,677	31,154	1,349
Shelby	1,487	16,163	1,023
Simpson	654	9,691	1,025
Spencer	401	2,247	867
Taylor	849	11,751	829
Todd	300	2,637	874
Trigg	333	3,198	772
Trimble	154	1,066	1,177
Union	375	5,119	1,130
Warren	4,916	69,053	990
Washington	340	3,533	967
Wayne	443	5,528	724
Webster	286	2,696	922
Whitley	986	14,021	859
Wolfe	184	1,537	711
Woodford	1,001	9,795	949
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, second quarter 2023

State	Establishments, second quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage (1)
		June 2023 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2022–23	Second quarter 2023	National ranking by level	Percent change, second quarter 2022–23	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	11,964.6	154,308.5	2.4	$1,332	--	3.2	--
Alabama	156.7	2,079.2	2.7	1,107	35	4.0	13
Alaska	25.3	342.4	3.6	1,285	15	3.9	17
Arizona	219.1	3,091.7	3.0	1,265	18	3.9	17
Arkansas	103.2	1,284.8	2.6	1,033	50	3.8	19
California	1,767.7	18,151.1	0.9	1,624	4	3.4	26
Colorado	256.6	2,914.3	2.7	1,426	8	4.8	5
Connecticut	148.0	1,692.0	1.8	1,511	6	3.8	19
Delaware	41.6	476.2	3.0	1,248	19	2.3	44
District of Columbia	51.3	762.6	2.2	2,193	1	3.7	23
Florida	891.8	9,547.7	3.7	1,234	21	4.3	8
Georgia	384.5	4,802.8	2.2	1,247	20	2.6	39
Hawaii	56.5	636.0	3.2	1,198	24	4.0	13
Idaho	94.3	855.8	3.1	1,038	48	3.3	30
Illinois	410.8	6,101.2	1.9	1,357	12	2.6	39
Indiana	191.1	3,164.7	1.5	1,102	37	2.0	47
Iowa	110.5	1,581.8	1.1	1,082	42	2.6	39
Kansas	98.7	1,428.6	3.2	1,081	43	4.0	13
Kentucky	150.1	1,974.5	2.8	1,100	38	3.0	35
Louisiana	153.8	1,887.3	1.7	1,093	40	2.7	38
Maine	65.0	654.1	2.1	1,123	34	3.3	30
Maryland	187.1	2,716.4	2.1	1,402	9	2.2	45
Massachusetts	296.4	3,703.4	1.2	1,670	2	2.0	47
Michigan	318.4	4,463.0	2.5	1,220	23	3.4	26
Minnesota	205.7	2,964.0	2.3	1,315	14	2.2	45
Mississippi	87.7	1,158.0	1.4	924	51	4.3	8
Missouri	246.7	2,908.7	2.0	1,150	32	4.0	13
Montana	65.5	521.0	3.0	1,072	46	4.4	7
Nebraska	76.8	1,022.1	3.0	1,092	41	3.4	26
Nevada	106.7	1,522.8	3.2	1,189	27	2.9	36
New Hampshire	65.3	694.8	2.3	1,387	10	3.2	32
New Jersey	330.2	4,341.4	2.8	1,464	7	1.6	50
New Mexico	66.7	859.1	3.8	1,107	35	6.5	1
New York	699.6	9,623.8	2.4	1,621	5	2.5	42
North Carolina	370.9	4,857.5	3.3	1,198	24	3.4	26
North Dakota	35.4	430.4	2.9	1,184	28	4.9	3
Ohio	341.8	5,521.9	1.7	1,160	31	3.1	34
Oklahoma	129.7	1,669.0	3.1	1,052	47	3.6	25
Oregon	200.8	2,010.7	2.2	1,281	16	2.4	43
Pennsylvania	393.0	6,014.8	1.9	1,277	17	2.0	47
Rhode Island	48.0	498.8	1.3	1,221	22	-0.3	51
South Carolina	175.9	2,248.6	2.8	1,079	44	3.7	23
South Dakota	39.6	466.8	2.7	1,035	49	3.8	19
Tennessee	215.9	3,254.2	3.0	1,195	26	3.8	19
Texas	824.9	13,716.3	3.9	1,322	13	3.2	32
Utah	135.7	1,699.4	2.8	1,183	29	4.2	11
Vermont	31.8	310.3	2.3	1,175	30	4.1	12
Virginia	357.1	4,082.3	2.8	1,371	11	4.3	8
Washington	241.0	3,639.8	2.7	1,649	3	4.9	3
West Virginia	58.8	695.7	2.9	1,075	45	6.1	2
Wisconsin	204.4	2,975.8	1.9	1,126	33	2.9	36
Wyoming	30.5	288.6	2.7	1,096	39	4.6	6
Puerto Rico	52.6	929.7	1.6	622	(3)	4.2	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.8	36.3	4.7	992	(3)	1.1	(3)
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (3) Data not included in the national ranking.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.