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County Employment and Wages in Mississippi — First Quarter 2025
Employment increased in both large counties in Mississippi from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Hinds County had the larger over-the-year increase in employment (+0.3 percent). (See chart 1 and table 1.)
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Mississippi, March 2025
County
Percent change, March 2025
Hinds
0.3
Harrison
0.1
Among the two largest counties in Mississippi, employment was higher in Hinds (109,200) in March 2025. Together, the two largest counties accounted for 17.1 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 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 2024.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2025
Both large Mississippi counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Hinds had the larger increase (+5.2 percent), followed by Harrison (+3.7 percent).
Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Mississippi, first quarter 2025
County
Percent change, first quarter 2025
Hinds
5.2
Harrison
3.7
Weekly wages in both large counties in Mississippi were below the national average of $1,589. Average weekly wages were $1,200 in Hinds and $990 in Harrison.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2025
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 80 small counties in Mississippi, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 79 of the 80 smaller counties were below the national average. Claiborne reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,607). Issaquena reported the lowest average weekly wage ($601) in the state.
Among all 82 Mississippi counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of less than $775, 23 had wages from $775 to $849, 22 had wages from $850 to $924, 10 had wages from $925 to $999, and 17 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Mississippi, first quarter 2025
(U.S. Average = $1,589)
Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.
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 news release for second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
County Changes for the 2025 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2024 are included in this release and will be included in future 2025 releases. Four counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Pinal, AZ; Henry, GA; Wood, OH; and Comal, TX. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Gregg, TX.
Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the two largest counties in Mississippi, first quarter 2025
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. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include 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 Mississippi, first quarter 2025
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 include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2025
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. Dashes indicate data not applicable or available. Covered employment and wages include workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
United States Department of Labor
