Employment rose in 9 of the 11 largest counties in Georgia 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 Victoria G. Lee noted that Forsyth County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.0 percent. (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 2024

County	Percent change, June 2024
Forsyth	3.0
Chatham	1.7
Hall	1.7
Fulton	1.5
Cobb	1.2
DeKalb	1.1
Gwinnett	0.9
Richmond	0.6
Muscogee	0.5
Bibb	-1.0
Clayton	-1.4

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 11 largest counties in Georgia, employment was highest in Fulton County (951,100) in June 2024. Within Fulton County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 11 largest Georgia counties accounted for 57.5 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 148 counties in Georgia with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 147 of the 148 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All 11 large Georgia counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Chatham County had the largest gain (+5.4 percent), followed by Fulton County (+4.9 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Georgia’s other nine large counties ranged from 4.2 percent to 1.4 percent.

  

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

County	Percent change, second quarter 2024
Chatham	5.4
Fulton	4.9
DeKalb	4.2
Hall	4.2
Forsyth	3.9
Richmond	3.6
Gwinnett	3.5
Muscogee	3.2
Cobb	2.6
Bibb	1.7
Clayton	1.4

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.4 percent over the year. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published 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 4 of the 11 largest counties in Georgia were above the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. Fulton County reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,811), followed by Cobb ($1,428), DeKalb ($1,424), and Clayton ($1,404).

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 148 smaller counties in Georgia—those with employment below 75,000—Burke ($1,399) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Taliaferro County ($656) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 159 counties in Georgia were considered, 25 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 56 registered wages from $800 to $899, 36 had wages from $900 to $999, 28 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)