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News Release Information

24-1154-ATL
Tuesday, June 18, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Mississippi — Fourth Quarter 2023

Employment rose in both large counties in Mississippi from December 2022 to December 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 Harrison County and Hinds County had over-the-year increases in employment at 1.0 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Among the two large counties in Mississippi, employment was highest in Hinds County (108,700) in December 2023. Within Hinds County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the two largest Mississippi counties accounted for 16.9 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

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 $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Both large Mississippi counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Hinds County (+4.0 percent) had a rate of wage gain that was above the nation rate of 3.6 percent.  


Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Average weekly wages in Hinds County ($1,141) and Harrison County ($909) were below the U.S. average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 80 smaller counties in Mississippi—those with employment below 75,000—Hancock ($1,176) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state. Quitman County ($703) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 82 counties in Mississippi were considered, 11 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 22 reported wages from $800 to $849, 18 had wages from $850 to $899, 11 had wages from $900 to $949, and 20 had average weekly wages of $950 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Mississippi, fourth quarter 2023

U.S. Average = $1,435

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 first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the two largest counties in Mississippi, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 -- 1,435 -- 3.6 --

Mississippi

89.1 1,170.9 0.7 -- 983 51 3.8 21

Harrison

5.1 88.8 1.0 213 909 357 2.4 272

Hinds

5.8 108.7 0.2 298 1,141 285 4.0 111

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 Mississippi, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment December 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,090,132 154,848,113 1,435

Mississippi

89,087 1,170,906 983

Adams

835 9,917 840

Alcorn

860 13,837 923

Amite

221 2,004 868

Attala

410 4,528 835

Benton

92 1,038 951

Bolivar

843 10,687 867

Calhoun

269 2,970 769

Carroll

140 1,044 832

Chickasaw

376 4,635 768

Choctaw

162 2,354 1,002

Claiborne

142 3,375 1,112

Clarke

259 2,985 853

Clay

395 6,640 881

Coahoma

591 6,600 950

Copiah

491 6,387 774

Covington

398 5,628 846

De Soto

3,689 74,367 878

Forrest

1,996 40,358 1,016

Franklin

136 1,556 929

George

401 5,122 821

Greene

156 1,847 810

Grenada

584 9,281 888

Hancock

1,030 14,300 1,176

Harrison

5,085 88,834 909

Hinds

5,811 108,650 1,141

Holmes

286 3,039 808

Humphreys

185 1,980 719

Issaquena

36 188 825

Itawamba

418 5,988 806

Jackson

2,738 50,964 1,127

Jasper

269 4,092 1,009

Jefferson

73 932 844

Jefferson Davis

160 1,470 769

Jones

1,437 27,774 988

Kemper

134 1,757 803

Lafayette

1,551 25,045 958

Lamar

1,566 20,233 887

Lauderdale

1,910 31,551 904

Lawrence

217 2,682 1,104

Leake

351 5,245 728

Lee

2,701 53,249 1,013

Leflore

826 12,809 880

Lincoln

869 12,777 867

Lowndes

1,574 25,477 1,096

Madison

3,976 60,392 1,066

Marion

604 8,309 941

Marshall

559 11,223 935

Monroe

651 9,219 978

Montgomery

241 2,492 807

Neshoba

575 11,734 943

Newton

390 5,244 769

Noxubee

232 2,145 853

Oktibbeha

1,079 20,122 915

Panola

656 10,145 873

Pearl River

1,004 11,565 807

Perry

175 2,047 877

Pike

1,028 14,947 811

Pontotoc

555 11,856 837

Prentiss

545 7,644 809

Quitman

145 1,043 703

Rankin

4,570 67,570 1,024

Scott

535 13,555 901

Sharkey

146 920 809

Simpson

496 7,560 710

Smith

209 2,744 921

Stone

337 4,920 867

Sunflower

541 8,669 830

Tallahatchie

223 2,619 892

Tate

432 5,901 878

Tippah

398 7,035 883

Tishomingo

482 6,240 873

Tunica

273 6,263 838

Union

594 12,400 939

Walthall

230 2,381 744

Warren

1,106 19,294 1,095

Washington

1,215 14,435 866

Wayne

402 4,652 840

Webster

207 2,053 825

Wilkinson

135 1,495 798

Winston

366 5,115 1,035

Yalobusha

210 2,638 845

Yazoo

457 6,263 1,037

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, fourth quarter 2023
State Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 1,435 -- 3.6 --

Alabama

159.1 2,101.1 2.0 1,207 35 4.2 15

Alaska

25.2 311.6 2.4 1,372 16 5.5 2

Arizona

226.4 3,231.4 2.2 1,322 21 3.8 21

Arkansas

103.2 1,294.0 1.4 1,089 50 2.1 49

California

1,792.2 18,111.4 0.2 1,759 4 4.8 9

Colorado

263.2 2,930.1 2.5 1,516 9 3.0 38

Connecticut

151.0 1,690.0 1.3 1,632 6 2.4 46

Delaware

43.2 472.9 1.3 1,373 15 2.2 47

District of Columbia

52.6 759.9 0.7 2,385 1 4.1 16

Florida

904.4 9,870.1 2.5 1,328 20 3.4 32

Georgia

391.7 4,866.4 1.3 1,331 19 3.5 30

Hawaii

58.3 643.3 0.8 1,288 24 5.0 7

Idaho

96.3 854.9 3.5 1,137 46 1.9 50

Illinois

410.6 6,051.9 0.8 1,479 12 3.4 32

Indiana

191.4 3,187.1 0.9 1,171 41 3.6 26

Iowa

110.7 1,564.0 1.0 1,199 36 4.0 18

Kansas

100.1 1,431.8 1.1 1,167 42 3.7 25

Kentucky

154.0 2,004.4 1.8 1,146 45 4.1 16

Louisiana

154.2 1,905.4 0.8 1,193 37 5.3 5

Maine

64.8 636.8 1.4 1,209 34 3.8 21

Maryland

193.8 2,730.4 2.3 1,509 10 3.1 36

Massachusetts

292.9 3,655.4 0.8 1,805 2 0.7 51

Michigan

330.9 4,407.8 1.2 1,316 22 3.3 34

Minnesota

209.2 2,909.9 1.2 1,400 14 3.1 36

Mississippi

89.1 1,170.9 0.7 983 51 3.8 21

Missouri

253.9 2,906.3 1.6 1,222 33 4.3 14

Montana

68.2 510.0 1.8 1,178 40 5.4 3

Nebraska

76.8 1,018.5 2.0 1,187 39 2.9 40

Nevada

108.5 1,556.7 3.6 1,271 28 2.2 47

New Hampshire

67.1 689.2 1.4 1,527 8 2.8 41

New Jersey

333.8 4,293.1 1.3 1,574 7 2.6 44

New Mexico

68.6 868.3 2.3 1,165 43 4.9 8

New York

699.7 9,627.1 1.7 1,783 3 2.8 41

North Carolina

383.8 4,917.9 2.5 1,280 27 3.6 26

North Dakota

36.1 427.0 2.7 1,267 29 5.2 6

Ohio

333.9 5,514.5 1.1 1,245 31 3.6 26

Oklahoma

132.6 1,697.1 1.9 1,123 49 4.7 11

Oregon

206.1 1,985.5 1.0 1,338 18 2.8 41

Pennsylvania

392.4 6,023.4 1.2 1,360 17 3.0 38

Rhode Island

48.3 492.3 1.3 1,302 23 3.3 34

South Carolina

180.8 2,278.0 2.6 1,153 44 3.8 21

South Dakota

40.0 456.0 2.5 1,136 47 3.6 26

Tennessee

225.9 3,276.9 1.6 1,285 25 2.5 45

Texas

835.1 13,905.4 2.3 1,427 13 4.0 18

Utah

139.0 1,713.5 2.1 1,285 25 4.5 13

Vermont

32.6 310.3 1.5 1,250 30 3.5 30

Virginia

316.7 4,089.8 1.7 1,482 11 4.7 11

Washington

243.0 3,590.9 1.6 1,742 5 6.7 1

West Virginia

59.9 693.5 1.2 1,126 48 5.4 3

Wisconsin

208.0 2,936.6 1.0 1,233 32 3.9 20

Wyoming

30.8 277.4 1.5 1,191 38 4.8 9

Puerto Rico

54.4 975.7 0.0 688 (3) 3.3 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.2 1.6 1,024 (3) 0.7 (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: Tuesday, June 18, 2024