Employment rose in both large counties in Mississippi from September 2023 to September 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 employment increased 0.6 percent over the year in both Harrison County and Hinds County. (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 Mississippi, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Harrison	0.6
Hinds	0.6

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the two large counties in Mississippi, employment was highest in Hinds County (109,100) in September 2024. Within Hinds County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the two largest Mississippi counties accounted for 17.0 percent of total 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 80 counties in Mississippi with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 80 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Both large Mississippi counties reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Hinds County (+4.4 percent) and Harrison County (+3.8 percent) each had a rate of wage gain that was below the national rate of 4.5 percent.

  

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

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
Hinds	4.4
Harrison	3.8

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

Average weekly wages in Hinds County ($1,114) and Harrison County ($919) were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024.

Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Among the 80 smaller counties in Mississippi—those with employment below 75,000—Claiborne ($1,266) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state. Quitman County ($669) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 82 counties in Mississippi were considered, 27 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 19 reported wages from $800 to $849, 12 had wages from $850 to $899, 9 had wages from $900 to $949, and 15 had average weekly wages of $950 or higher. (See map 1.)