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News Release Information

24-540-ATL
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

County Employment and Wages in Florida — Third Quarter 2023

Employment increased in all 26 of Florida’s largest counties from September 2022 to September 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 St. Johns County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 5.0 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hall, GA, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+5.4 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.3 percent).

Among the 26 largest counties in Florida, employment was highest in Miami-Dade County (1,233,200) in September 2023. Within Miami-Dade County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 26 largest Florida counties accounted for 87.3 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 41 counties in Florida with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 41 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Fifteen of Florida’s 26 largest counties reported average weekly wage losses from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Sarasota County reported the largest loss (-3.1 percent), followed by Escambia County (-3.0 percent). Among Florida’s 11 other largest counties, 9 reported wage gains ranging from 1.7 percent to 0.1 percent.


Nationwide, wages increased by 0.1 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 169 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+7.7 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-6.0 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Among Florida’s 26 largest counties, only Miami-Dade County ($1,339) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,334 in the third quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in Florida’s other 25 large counties ranged from $1,330 in Palm Beach to $937 in Osceola.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 92 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2023. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,288). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($793).

Average weekly wages in Florida’s smaller counties

Among the 41 smaller counties in Florida—those with employment below 75,000—Monroe ($1,059) reported the highest average weekly wage. Calhoun County ($744) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 67 counties in Florida were considered, 12 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 20 had average weekly wages from $850 to $949, 16 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 7 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 12 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Florida, third quarter 2023

(U.S. Average = $1,334)

 
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 the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages full data update for the fourth quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the 26 largest counties in Florida, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,026.4153,772.81.5--1,334--0.1--

Florida

894.29,668.62.5--1,21825-0.131

Alachua

8.4138.40.32851,1682021.739

Bay

6.980.81.51409823400.0170

Brevard

19.2239.72.7421,2181710.6110

Broward

84.3855.72.2821,269131-0.7227

Collier

18.6162.63.2221,196183-0.9240

Duval

36.3556.60.92161,2591380.797

Escambia

9.9147.32.4591,038316-3.0342

Hillsborough

60.7782.32.7421,312101-0.4197

Lake

11.0115.04.539733441.260

Lee

29.2292.81.51401,1032600.885

Leon

11.5160.20.92161,098266-1.1259

Manatee

14.7139.43.991,091272-0.5207

Marion

10.3116.82.4599423520.2153

Miami-Dade

125.21,233.22.6491,33989-1.2267

Okaloosa

7.890.50.62531,137231-1.2267

Orange

57.6941.13.0291,1971820.6110

Osceola

10.7110.82.838937353-0.6217

Palm Beach

73.9652.42.1871,330940.0170

Pasco

14.9141.93.5141,003330-0.5207

Pinellas

42.1451.50.22961,1702000.1164

Polk

18.7259.31.81081,001331-0.4197

St. Johns

10.996.75.021,062302-2.7332

St. Lucie

8.889.72.838961346-2.1314

Sarasota

22.1186.22.4591,154215-3.1346

Seminole

18.5211.40.22961,155213-1.2267

Volusia

17.1187.21.61239733441.260

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 Florida, third quarter 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment September 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,026,378153,772,8111,334

Florida

894,2319,668,5521,218

Alachua

8,377138,3591,168

Baker

5027,536789

Bay

6,85780,769982

Bradford

5686,487854

Brevard

19,153239,6561,218

Broward

84,275855,6631,269

Calhoun

2713,134744

Charlotte

5,99952,774968

Citrus

3,68734,086873

Clay

5,51056,537973

Collier

18,560162,6111,196

Columbia

1,84924,517934

De Soto

7679,686871

Dixie

2852,948839

Duval

36,284556,5981,259

Escambia

9,850147,2711,038

Flagler

3,42327,800903

Franklin

4223,553769

Gadsden

97117,369875

Gilchrist

4003,746826

Glades

2011,907966

Gulf

5374,507930

Hamilton

2482,908981

Hardee

6027,307855

Hendry

1,07212,325918

Hernando

4,60649,749890

Highlands

2,62528,173882

Hillsborough

60,685782,2661,312

Holmes

3983,690789

Indian River

5,93055,9311,028

Jackson

1,04714,950855

Jefferson

3812,884810

Lafayette

1531,350832

Lake

10,959115,021973

Lee

29,208292,8361,103

Leon

11,530160,1951,098

Levy

1,1499,357764

Liberty

1351,847885

Madison

4524,901790

Manatee

14,672139,4411,091

Marion

10,289116,780942

Martin

7,71176,8351,056

Miami-Dade

125,1961,233,1511,339

Monroe

5,11244,6651,059

Nassau

2,88527,021966

Okaloosa

7,80890,5071,137

Okeechobee

1,11911,954899

Orange

57,584941,1401,197

Osceola

10,702110,798937

Palm Beach

73,903652,3991,330

Pasco

14,922141,8821,003

Pinellas

42,085451,4761,170

Polk

18,676259,3311,001

Putnam

1,61116,937932

St. Johns

10,92396,6861,062

St. Lucie

8,80389,695961

Santa Rosa

4,61443,738895

Sarasota

22,140186,2181,154

Seminole

18,472211,4281,155

Sumter

2,62939,2831,033

Suwannee

94811,814839

Taylor

5336,805905

Union

2343,475976

Volusia

17,072187,211973

Wakulla

6326,514864

Walton

4,01734,432998

Washington

5596,155820

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, third quarter 2023
StateEstablishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
September 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2022–23
Third quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,026.4153,772.81.51,334--0.1--

Alabama

157.72,079.61.81,121350.424

Alaska

25.4335.43.11,328151.82

Arizona

223.13,163.82.11,24820-0.233

Arkansas

103.11,284.31.41,036500.030

California

1,785.318,102.20.21,61340.812

Colorado

261.92,888.72.31,4318-0.540

Connecticut

150.01,679.01.41,4806-0.642

Delaware

42.3472.52.11,26918-1.651

District of Columbia

52.1758.70.82,15911.44

Florida

894.29,668.62.51,21825-0.131

Georgia

392.54,807.31.51,24919-0.233

Hawaii

57.4627.90.71,226231.18

Idaho

95.3852.72.11,068460.519

Illinois

411.36,044.10.81,34612-1.048

Indiana

192.33,175.61.01,11536-0.745

Iowa

110.51,559.71.01,11237-0.642

Kansas

99.71,419.71.31,087430.325

Kentucky

152.21,985.42.01,092421.011

Louisiana

155.41,886.60.51,107400.615

Maine

64.9649.11.51,129341.18

Maryland

190.12,689.70.81,42490.519

Massachusetts

295.83,653.50.51,6433-0.745

Michigan

325.54,422.21.91,22822-0.540

Minnesota

206.42,923.51.41,32914-1.350

Mississippi

88.31,163.10.992751-0.642

Missouri

250.42,894.11.51,152310.325

Montana

66.9513.21.51,072451.26

Nebraska

78.31,014.02.31,11138-0.437

Nevada

107.51,537.82.81,20127-0.336

New Hampshire

66.3687.61.41,35011-1.249

New Jersey

326.84,256.91.91,4567-0.437

New Mexico

67.9857.21.61,096411.18

New York

701.89,525.51.71,61050.228

North Carolina

375.64,835.12.01,222241.26

North Dakota

35.8428.31.91,205261.35

Ohio

344.45,488.11.31,18530-0.131

Oklahoma

131.11,684.92.11,052480.519

Oregon

203.42,001.81.01,301160.519

Pennsylvania

392.55,996.01.31,28317-0.947

Rhode Island

48.2495.11.61,234210.714

South Carolina

179.72,256.42.61,086440.615

South Dakota

39.8457.62.01,058470.615

Tennessee

221.23,216.10.41,199280.129

Texas

831.913,731.12.61,336130.325

Utah

137.21,706.12.31,195290.812

Vermont

32.4306.51.41,14132-0.233

Virginia

315.84,053.61.81,383100.519

Washington

242.63,618.11.31,68221.53

West Virginia

59.1695.31.81,044490.615

Wisconsin

206.22,938.61.01,13333-0.437

Wyoming

30.6285.22.11,111382.41

Puerto Rico

53.6940.21.6633(3)2.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.835.11.9953(3)-4.0(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.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024