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News Release Information

23-2608-ATL
Monday, December 18, 2023

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

County Employment and Wages in Kentucky — Second Quarter 2023

Among Kentucky’s three largest counties, employment increased in Fayette (+4.1 percent) and Jefferson (+2.4 percent) from June 2022 to June 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that employment in Boone County declined 1.0 percent over the year. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 2.4 percent over the year, with 337 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+7.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.7 percent).

Among the three largest counties in Kentucky, employment was highest in Jefferson County (482,900) in June 2023. Within Jefferson County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the three largest Kentucky counties accounted for 39.7 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 72.9 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 117 counties in Kentucky with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 113 of the 117 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All three large Kentucky counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Jefferson County had the largest gain (+2.8 percent), followed by Fayette County (+2.7 percent) and Boone County (+2.5 percent).


Nationwide, wages increased by 3.2 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 332 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+17.2 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-13.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in all of Kentucky’s three largest counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. Average weekly wages in Jefferson County ($1,284, 113th) ranked in the top third nationwide.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 88 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,321). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 272 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($795).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 117 smaller counties in Kentucky —those with employment below 75,000—Hancock ($1,449), Carroll ($1,379), Scott ($1,349) and Kenton ($1,333) reported an average weekly wage above the national average of $1,332. Wolfe County ($711) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 120 counties in Kentucky were considered, 22 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 39 registered wages from $800 to $899, 31 had wages from $900 to $999, 15 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,100 or higher. (See map 1.)


Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Kentucky, second quarter 2023

(U.S. Average = $1,332)


 
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 third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Kentucky, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 -- $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Kentucky

150.1 1,974.5 2.8 -- 1,100 38 3.0 35

Boone

5.9 103.8 -1.0 345 1,089 266 2.5 205

Fayette

14.3 197.6 4.1 29 1,173 190 2.7 185

Jefferson

32.2 482.9 2.4 133 1,284 113 2.8 179

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 Kentucky, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment June 2023 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,964,606 154,308,523 $1,332

Kentucky

150,128 1,974,541 1,100

Adair

480 4,664 788

Allen

396 5,093 869

Anderson

506 5,090 913

Ballard

226 2,787 874

Barren

1,241 15,930 886

Bath

252 2,057 969

Bell

592 8,494 813

Boone

5,870 103,786 1,089

Bourbon

617 6,960 997

Boyd

1,737 25,335 1,092

Boyle

1,010 14,948 935

Bracken

206 1,508 902

Breathitt

360 2,529 819

Breckinridge

422 3,821 817

Bullitt

1,668 28,692 946

Butler

287 2,949 838

Caldwell

370 4,735 806

Calloway

1,247 15,481 819

Campbell

3,108 31,060 1,048

Carlisle

134 1,014 905

Carroll

363 7,671 1,379

Carter

614 5,864 799

Casey

354 4,092 767

Christian

2,083 31,704 999

Clark

1,020 13,520 1,017

Clay

412 4,039 855

Clinton

291 3,520 719

Crittenden

204 2,002 784

Cumberland

178 2,333 811

Daviess

3,390 46,556 1,000

Edmonson

176 1,639 817

Elliott

93 852 937

Estill

249 2,342 910

Fayette

14,275 197,614 1,173

Fleming

416 3,227 887

Floyd

1,090 11,101 923

Franklin

2,645 33,828 1,094

Fulton

216 2,300 790

Gallatin

158 2,648 1,277

Garrard

383 2,757 882

Grant

580 5,290 953

Graves

1,012 11,645 936

Grayson

659 7,810 814

Green

226 1,868 818

Greenup

735 7,095 888

Hancock

225 3,730 1,449

Hardin

3,513 48,002 1,013

Harlan

513 6,109 846

Harrison

393 5,287 912

Hart

401 5,159 954

Henderson

1,378 19,056 998

Henry

377 2,824 941

Hickman

109 933 773

Hopkins

1,144 17,374 1,001

Jackson

183 1,875 753

Jefferson

32,178 482,864 1,284

Jessamine

1,820 18,591 970

Johnson

632 5,426 824

Kenton

5,573 73,268 1,333

Knott

302 2,170 771

Knox

611 8,328 796

Larue

302 2,469 818

Laurel

1,748 26,235 883

Lawrence

328 4,265 819

Lee

161 1,698 839

Leslie

176 1,682 875

Letcher

486 4,430 879

Lewis

265 1,940 829

Lincoln

477 3,930 849

Livingston

237 3,079 1,037

Logan

738 9,156 1,127

Lyon

266 2,961 799

McCracken

2,776 40,747 1,046

McCreary

280 2,826 894

McLean

240 1,748 825

Madison

2,795 35,324 981

Magoffin

259 1,862 771

Marion

500 8,959 931

Marshall

988 11,966 1,165

Martin

206 1,922 1,006

Mason

656 7,892 945

Meade

523 5,260 1,193

Menifee

119 994 781

Mercer

568 7,070 1,073

Metcalfe

242 2,128 834

Monroe

284 3,253 823

Montgomery

817 11,016 931

Morgan

263 3,034 892

Muhlenberg

719 8,153 946

Nelson

1,440 18,312 1,027

Nicholas

110 885 726

Ohio

494 7,469 812

Oldham

2,295 17,267 1,128

Owen

168 1,587 919

Owsley

93 730 757

Pendleton

270 2,281 960

Perry

916 11,531 969

Pike

1,583 19,814 979

Powell

283 3,021 741

Pulaski

2,040 26,106 878

Robertson

59 264 761

Rockcastle

266 4,086 797

Rowan

742 11,070 889

Russell

510 6,313 793

Scott

1,677 31,154 1,349

Shelby

1,487 16,163 1,023

Simpson

654 9,691 1,025

Spencer

401 2,247 867

Taylor

849 11,751 829

Todd

300 2,637 874

Trigg

333 3,198 772

Trimble

154 1,066 1,177

Union

375 5,119 1,130

Warren

4,916 69,053 990

Washington

340 3,533 967

Wayne

443 5,528 724

Webster

286 2,696 922

Whitley

986 14,021 859

Wolfe

184 1,537 711

Woodford

1,001 9,795 949

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, second quarter 2023
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Alabama

156.7 2,079.2 2.7 1,107 35 4.0 13

Alaska

25.3 342.4 3.6 1,285 15 3.9 17

Arizona

219.1 3,091.7 3.0 1,265 18 3.9 17

Arkansas

103.2 1,284.8 2.6 1,033 50 3.8 19

California

1,767.7 18,151.1 0.9 1,624 4 3.4 26

Colorado

256.6 2,914.3 2.7 1,426 8 4.8 5

Connecticut

148.0 1,692.0 1.8 1,511 6 3.8 19

Delaware

41.6 476.2 3.0 1,248 19 2.3 44

District of Columbia

51.3 762.6 2.2 2,193 1 3.7 23

Florida

891.8 9,547.7 3.7 1,234 21 4.3 8

Georgia

384.5 4,802.8 2.2 1,247 20 2.6 39

Hawaii

56.5 636.0 3.2 1,198 24 4.0 13

Idaho

94.3 855.8 3.1 1,038 48 3.3 30

Illinois

410.8 6,101.2 1.9 1,357 12 2.6 39

Indiana

191.1 3,164.7 1.5 1,102 37 2.0 47

Iowa

110.5 1,581.8 1.1 1,082 42 2.6 39

Kansas

98.7 1,428.6 3.2 1,081 43 4.0 13

Kentucky

150.1 1,974.5 2.8 1,100 38 3.0 35

Louisiana

153.8 1,887.3 1.7 1,093 40 2.7 38

Maine

65.0 654.1 2.1 1,123 34 3.3 30

Maryland

187.1 2,716.4 2.1 1,402 9 2.2 45

Massachusetts

296.4 3,703.4 1.2 1,670 2 2.0 47

Michigan

318.4 4,463.0 2.5 1,220 23 3.4 26

Minnesota

205.7 2,964.0 2.3 1,315 14 2.2 45

Mississippi

87.7 1,158.0 1.4 924 51 4.3 8

Missouri

246.7 2,908.7 2.0 1,150 32 4.0 13

Montana

65.5 521.0 3.0 1,072 46 4.4 7

Nebraska

76.8 1,022.1 3.0 1,092 41 3.4 26

Nevada

106.7 1,522.8 3.2 1,189 27 2.9 36

New Hampshire

65.3 694.8 2.3 1,387 10 3.2 32

New Jersey

330.2 4,341.4 2.8 1,464 7 1.6 50

New Mexico

66.7 859.1 3.8 1,107 35 6.5 1

New York

699.6 9,623.8 2.4 1,621 5 2.5 42

North Carolina

370.9 4,857.5 3.3 1,198 24 3.4 26

North Dakota

35.4 430.4 2.9 1,184 28 4.9 3

Ohio

341.8 5,521.9 1.7 1,160 31 3.1 34

Oklahoma

129.7 1,669.0 3.1 1,052 47 3.6 25

Oregon

200.8 2,010.7 2.2 1,281 16 2.4 43

Pennsylvania

393.0 6,014.8 1.9 1,277 17 2.0 47

Rhode Island

48.0 498.8 1.3 1,221 22 -0.3 51

South Carolina

175.9 2,248.6 2.8 1,079 44 3.7 23

South Dakota

39.6 466.8 2.7 1,035 49 3.8 19

Tennessee

215.9 3,254.2 3.0 1,195 26 3.8 19

Texas

824.9 13,716.3 3.9 1,322 13 3.2 32

Utah

135.7 1,699.4 2.8 1,183 29 4.2 11

Vermont

31.8 310.3 2.3 1,175 30 4.1 12

Virginia

357.1 4,082.3 2.8 1,371 11 4.3 8

Washington

241.0 3,639.8 2.7 1,649 3 4.9 3

West Virginia

58.8 695.7 2.9 1,075 45 6.1 2

Wisconsin

204.4 2,975.8 1.9 1,126 33 2.9 36

Wyoming

30.5 288.6 2.7 1,096 39 4.6 6

Puerto Rico

52.6 929.7 1.6 622 (3) 4.2 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.3 4.7 992 (3) 1.1 (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: Monday, December 18, 2023