Employment rose in 4 of the 7 largest counties in Alabama from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Baldwin County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 3.5 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 Alabama, September 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
Baldwin	3.5
Madison	1.4
Jefferson	0.8
Shelby	0.5
Tuscaloosa	-0.5
Montgomery	-0.7
Mobile	-1.0

Among the seven largest counties in Alabama, employment was highest in Jefferson (368,200) in September 2025. Together, the seven largest counties accounted for 55.8 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 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.)

All seven large Alabama counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Baldwin had the largest gain (+5.4 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Alabama’s other six large counties ranged from 4.5 percent to 2.7 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Alabama, third quarter 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
Baldwin	5.4
Tuscaloosa	4.5
Shelby	3.8
Madison	3.6
Jefferson	3.4
Mobile	3.3
Montgomery	2.7

Among Alabama’s largest counties, Madison ($1,523) had a weekly wage above the national average of $1,459. Average weekly wages among Alabama’s other six large counties ranged from $1,382 in Jefferson to $1,037 in Baldwin.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 60 small counties in Alabama, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 59 of the 60 smaller counties were below the national average. Washington reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,775). Geneva reported the lowest average weekly wage ($839) in the state.

Among all 67 Alabama counties, 7 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 22 had wages from $900 to $974, 16 had wages from $975 to $1,049, 9 had wages from $1,050 to $1,124, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,125 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)