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News Release Information

24-1940-ATL
Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

County Employment and Wages in Alabama — First Quarter 2024

Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Alabama from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Baldwin County and Madison County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 3.3 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Among the seven largest counties in Alabama, employment was highest in Jefferson County (364,200) in March 2024. Within Jefferson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the seven largest Alabama counties accounted for 55.7 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 60 counties in Alabama with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 59 of the 60 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All seven large Alabama counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Madison County and Tuscaloosa County had the largest gain (+4.2 percent each). Over-the-year wage gains among Alabama’s other five large counties ranged from 3.7 percent to 2.1 percent.


Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Average weekly wages in all seven of Alabama’s largest counties were below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in Alabama’s largest counties ranged from $1,484 in Madison to $960 in Baldwin.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 60 smaller counties in Alabama—those with employment below 75,000—Washington ($1,753) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Greene County ($780) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 67 counties in Alabama were considered, 18 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 25 registered wages from $900 to $999, 11 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 7 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 6 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Alabama, first quarter 2024

(U.S. average = $1,527)

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

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 release for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Changes for the 2024 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2023 are included in this release and will be included in future 2024 releases. Seven counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Martin, FL; Sarpy, NE; Doña Ana, NM; Kent, RI; Ector, TX; Gregg, TX; and Racine, WI. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions, and those for other types of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), were announced in July 2023. With the full data update for first quarter 2024 on September 4, 2024, QCEW data reflect the new definitions. Data based on the new area definitions are available in the BLS online database. Historical data will not be re-tabulated to reflect the new definitions. The announcement regarding new metropolitan statistical area delineations for 2024 provides more information regarding the new area definitions.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest counties in Alabama, first quarter 2024
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 -- 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Alabama

160.7 2,091.9 1.6 -- 1,201 37 3.3 44

Baldwin

8.6 84.6 3.3 13 960 362 3.6 200

Jefferson

22.9 364.2 1.4 151 1,435 113 2.6 288

Madison

13.6 228.0 2.8 27 1,484 96 4.2 139

Mobile

12.3 172.9 0.5 260 1,163 282 3.7 183

Montgomery

7.2 132.4 2.1 64 1,145 300 2.6 288

Shelby

7.2 84.7 -0.5 336 1,356 154 2.1 325

Tuscaloosa

5.4 98.0 0.8 217 1,168 279 4.2 139

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. Covered employment and wages includes 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 Alabama, first quarter 2024
Area Establishments Employment March 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000 153,585,576 1,527

Alabama

160,741 2,091,921 1,201

Autauga

1,117 12,177 984

Baldwin

8,639 84,607 960

Barbour

603 7,577 868

Bibb

445 4,816 1,017

Blount

956 9,051 834

Bullock

214 2,827 944

Butler

549 6,794 873

Calhoun

2,843 43,522 1,027

Chambers

787 8,798 962

Cherokee

491 5,334 843

Chilton

933 9,049 911

Choctaw

366 3,359 1,148

Clarke

759 8,244 995

Clay

250 4,244 867

Cleburne

291 2,622 1,007

Coffee

1,379 17,363 860

Colbert

1,579 24,200 1,101

Conecuh

293 3,280 858

Coosa

158 1,432 1,019

Covington

1,127 12,179 893

Crenshaw

310 3,664 849

Cullman

2,294 30,958 974

Dale

1,140 18,198 1,201

Dallas

976 11,309 927

DeKalb

1,470 22,895 964

Elmore

1,748 21,178 903

Escambia

945 12,888 1,000

Etowah

2,418 32,692 884

Fayette

386 3,802 870

Franklin

687 10,846 887

Geneva

619 5,426 817

Greene

176 1,851 780

Hale

329 2,602 939

Henry

431 4,008 961

Houston

3,705 50,503 1,026

Jackson

1,192 15,578 937

Jefferson

22,943 364,166 1,435

Lamar

318 3,607 991

Lauderdale

2,562 30,795 903

Lawrence

581 5,799 965

Lee

4,347 66,657 1,012

Limestone

1,995 33,292 1,184

Lowndes

215 2,606 1,317

Macon

306 4,961 1,060

Madison

13,558 228,048 1,484

Marengo

571 7,374 1,028

Marion

702 10,363 917

Marshall

2,544 40,858 911

Mobile

12,306 172,879 1,163

Monroe

499 5,950 992

Montgomery

7,218 132,363 1,145

Morgan

3,340 52,249 1,152

Perry

183 1,875 781

Pickens

395 3,743 935

Pike

825 15,273 988

Randolph

467 4,920 851

Russell

1,193 14,140 896

St. Clair

1,893 21,671 991

Shelby

7,151 84,740 1,356

Sumter

311 2,966 897

Talladega

1,572 31,497 1,042

Tallapoosa

1,050 12,859 901

Tuscaloosa

5,403 97,988 1,168

Walker

1,577 18,803 949

Washington

324 5,202 1,753

Wilcox

315 2,632 1,027

Winston

529 7,994 966

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 includes 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 2024
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Alabama

160.7 2,091.9 1.6 1,201 37 3.3 44

Alaska

25.2 318.1 2.2 1,374 22 5.6 2

Arizona

229.4 3,257.0 2.9 1,372 23 3.1 46

Arkansas

104.6 1,292.8 1.4 1,171 44 4.0 24

California

1,835.8 18,053.0 1.5 1,833 5 5.5 3

Colorado

264.4 2,851.4 0.3 1,613 8 3.5 38

Connecticut

149.5 1,661.9 1.0 1,908 4 4.4 18

Delaware

43.0 469.3 1.8 1,484 15 3.7 33

District of Columbia

52.3 759.8 0.7 2,434 1 4.0 24

Florida

898.9 9,863.2 2.1 1,384 20 4.2 20

Georgia

401.4 4,843.9 1.3 1,441 17 4.7 12

Hawaii

58.6 638.8 0.6 1,278 29 4.8 10

Idaho

98.5 835.8 1.9 1,130 47 4.1 22

Illinois

410.2 5,966.9 0.3 1,608 9 2.7 50

Indiana

195.2 3,148.3 0.6 1,271 30 5.7 1

Iowa

110.8 1,543.1 0.9 1,214 36 3.2 45

Kansas

100.7 1,415.7 0.7 1,199 38 3.8 32

Kentucky

155.8 1,987.2 1.4 1,178 42 3.4 43

Louisiana

154.5 1,904.2 0.7 1,195 39 4.0 24

Maine

65.0 626.4 1.3 1,249 34 5.2 4

Maryland

198.4 2,690.0 0.8 1,591 10 4.5 16

Massachusetts

287.4 3,599.0 0.5 2,015 3 4.9 8

Michigan

338.6 4,351.0 1.0 1,352 24 3.5 38

Minnesota

210.5 2,850.4 0.2 1,519 14 4.0 24

Mississippi

89.5 1,157.2 0.2 980 51 3.6 36

Missouri

257.5 2,882.5 1.0 1,269 31 3.7 33

Montana

61.8 503.1 1.2 1,126 49 4.4 18

Nebraska

76.0 1,007.3 1.5 1,195 39 2.6 51

Nevada

112.1 1,534.4 2.4 1,304 28 4.7 12

New Hampshire

65.9 680.0 1.1 1,531 13 4.7 12

New Jersey

335.6 4,218.8 1.3 1,761 7 3.5 38

New Mexico

67.9 861.5 1.6 1,159 45 4.8 10

New York

709.5 9,537.4 1.8 2,089 2 3.5 38

North Carolina

395.7 4,871.0 1.8 1,401 18 4.0 24

North Dakota

36.1 419.9 1.6 1,261 33 3.7 33

Ohio

337.0 5,452.8 0.8 1,315 25 4.0 24

Oklahoma

132.9 1,690.0 1.7 1,152 46 4.0 24

Oregon

198.9 1,971.9 -0.3 1,377 21 3.1 46

Pennsylvania

392.0 5,967.0 1.1 1,449 16 3.0 48

Rhode Island

48.5 483.9 1.1 1,387 19 4.0 24

South Carolina

184.6 2,265.9 2.1 1,194 41 4.9 8

South Dakota

39.9 449.7 2.0 1,129 48 4.2 20

Tennessee

230.1 3,261.3 1.9 1,311 27 3.5 38

Texas

839.6 13,826.9 1.7 1,540 12 4.1 22

Utah

135.7 1,699.6 1.9 1,313 26 5.2 4

Vermont

32.8 307.3 0.6 1,232 35 3.6 36

Virginia

318.3 4,072.6 1.6 1,554 11 5.2 4

Washington

224.3 3,577.3 1.3 1,815 6 5.1 7

West Virginia

60.8 694.0 1.6 1,110 50 4.6 15

Wisconsin

206.0 2,899.1 0.6 1,263 32 4.5 16

Wyoming

30.8 274.1 1.1 1,177 43 2.8 49

Puerto Rico

54.7 952.8 1.6 677 (3) 4.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.5 0.9 996 (3) 1.6 (3)

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. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024