Employment rose in 21 of the 27 largest counties in Florida from December 2023 to December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Bay County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.1 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among selected large counties in Florida, December 2024

County	Percent change, December 2024
Bay	3.1
Osceola	2.5
Leon	2.4
St. Johns	2.4
Collier	2.2
St. Lucie	1.8
Pasco	1.7
Miami-Dade	1.1
Alachua	0.9
Duval	0.9
Polk	0.5
Sarasota	0.4
Seminole	0.4
Hillsborough	0.3
Brevard	0.0
Volusia	0.0
Broward	-0.2
Okaloosa	-0.2
Escambia	-0.3
Pinellas	-1.8

Among the 27 largest counties in Florida, employment was highest in Miami-Dade (1,279,800) in December 2024. Together, the 27 largest counties accounted for 87.7 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprise 73.3 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)

Among Florida’s 27 largest counties, 26 reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Pasco had the largest gain (+8.3 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Florida’s other 25 large counties ranged from 7.2 percent to 2.9 percent. Leon reported the only loss (-0.3 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among selected large counties in Florida, fourth quarter 2024

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2024
Pasco	8.3
Lake	7.2
Hillsborough	6.6
Orange	6.6
Escambia	6.4
Miami-Dade	6.0
Collier	5.8
Pinellas	5.7
Volusia	5.6
Palm Beach	5.3
Martin	4.8
Osceola	4.8
Brevard	4.7
Alachua	4.4
Bay	4.4
St. Lucie	4.2
Manatee	3.9
Sarasota	3.9
St. Johns	2.9
Leon	-0.3

Weekly wages in 3 of the 27 largest counties in Florida were above the national average of $1,507. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,590 in Palm Beach to $1,054 in St. Lucie.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 40 small counties in Florida, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2023. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all 40 smaller counties were below the national average. Hendry reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,261). Calhoun reported the lowest average weekly wage ($843) in the state.

Among all 67 Florida counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $950, 17 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 16 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, 10 had wages from $1,150 to $1,249, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)