For Release: Thursday, September 25, 2014

14-1657-DAL

SOUTHWEST INFORMATION OFFICE: Dallas, Texas
Technical information: (972) 850-4800 BLSInfoDallas@bls.gov www.bls.gov/regions/southwest
Media contact: (972) 850-4800

Parish Employment and Wages in Louisiana – First Quarter 2014

Employment rose in six of the seven largest parishes in Louisiana from March 2013 to March 2014 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties/parishes are those with 2013 annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more.) Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that one Louisiana parish ranked among the top 50 for job growth nationwide. The 3.6-percent employment gain in Orleans Parish was the fastest in the state and ranked 42nd nationally. (See table 1.)

Nationally, employment advanced 1.7 percent from March 2013 to March 2014 as 281 of the 339 largest U.S. counties registered increases. Weld County, Colo., recorded the largest percentage increase in the country, up 7.5 percent over the year. Peoria, Ill., registered the largest percentage employment decline, down 2.6 percent.

Among the seven largest parishes in Louisiana, employment was highest in East Baton Rouge (265,700) in March 2014, followed by Jefferson (191,200) and Orleans (187,200). Together, Louisiana's seven large parishes accounted for 55.9 percent of the state’s total employment. Nationwide, the 339 largest counties made up 72.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

From the first quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2014, Lafayette recorded the fastest rate of increase in average weekly wages among the seven large parishes in Louisiana, registering a gain of 4.3 percent. (See table 1.) Orleans had the highest average wage among the largest parishes at $980 per week. Nationally, average weekly wages increased 3.8 percent over the year to $1,027.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 57 parishes in Louisiana with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in seven of these smaller parishes were above the national average. (See table 2.)

Large parish wage changes

Lafayette Parish’s 4.3-percent rise in average weekly wages from the first quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2014 ranked 59th among the nation’s 339 largest counties. (See table 1.) Weekly wages increased at rates from 2.4 to 2.0 percent in the parishes of Caddo, Jefferson, and Calcasieu.

Over-the-year wage gains in Orleans, East Baton Rouge, and St. Tammany were less than 2.0 percent.

Nationally, 323 of the 339 largest counties registered over-the-year wage increases. Chester, Pa., had the largest wage gain, up 13.9 percent from the first quarter of 2013. New York, N.Y., was second with a wage increase of 12.0 percent, followed by the counties of Forsyth, N.C., and San Mateo, Calif. (both up 9.6 percent).

Among the nation’s 339 largest counties, 15 experienced over-the-year wage decreases. Benton, Ark., had the largest percentage decrease in average weekly wages, with a loss of 3.2 percent. Cumberland, N.C., had the second largest wage decline (-2.0 percent), followed by Dutchess, N.Y. (-1.6 percent), Ocean, N.J. (-1.3 percent), and McLean, Ill. (-1.0 percent).

Large parish average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the state’s seven large parishes were below the national average of $1,027 in the first quarter of 2014. However, average weekly wages in three of these parishes were high enough to place in the top half of the national ranking. At $980 per week, Orleans led among the state's largest parishes and ranked 125th in the country. Other parishes ranking in the top half nationally were Lafayette ($954, 142nd) and East Baton Rouge ($915, 161st). Average weekly wages in the four remaining large parishes placed in bottom half of the national ranking, ranging from $875 to $779.

In the first quarter of 2014, nearly three-fourths of the largest U.S. counties (244) reported wages below the national weekly average of $1,027. Horry County, S.C., reported the lowest wage ($571), followed by the Texas counties of Cameron ($581) and Hidalgo ($597).

Among the nation’s 339 largest counties, 95 registered weekly wages above the U.S. average. New York, N.Y., held the top position with an average weekly wage of $2,749, more than four times the wage levels in the three lowest-paid counties. Santa Clara, Calif., was second-highest at $2,074 per week, followed by the counties of San Mateo, Calif. ($2,058) and Somerset, N.J. ($2,048).

Average weekly wages in Louisiana's smaller parishes

For smaller parishes in Louisiana – those with employment below 75,000 – 50 of 57 reported weekly wages below the national average ($1,027) in the first quarter of 2014. In the seven remaining smaller parishes, wages not only exceeded the national average, but also were the highest in the state and ranged from $1,304 in St. Charles to $1,041 in Lafourche. The parishes of Franklin and Madison reported the lowest weekly wages in the state at $524 and $525, respectively. (See table 2.)

When all 64 parishes were considered, 9 reported average wages of $599 or less per week, 20 registered wages from $600 to $699, 12 had wages from $700 to $799, 7 had wages from $800 to $899, and 16 had wages of $900 or more. (See chart 1.) The higher-paying parishes were concentrated in the southern half of the state around the metropolitan areas of Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and New Orleans. The lower-paid parishes, those with weekly wages under $599, were generally located in the northeastern quadrant of the state.

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. The 2012 edition of this publication contains selected data produced by Business Employment Dynamics (BED) on job gains and losses, as well as selected data from the first quarter 2013 version of the national news release. Tables and additional content from Employment and Wages Annual Averages 2012 are now available online at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/2012/home.htm. The 2013 edition of Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online will be available in late September 2014.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.

Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The 9.4 million employer reports cover 136.6 million full- and part-time workers. The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS Web site at www.bls.gov/cew/; however, data in QCEW press releases have been revised (see Technical Note below) and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s Web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS Web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS Web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

Table 1. Covered employment and wages in the United States and the 7 largest parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2014
Table 1. Covered employment and wages in the United States and the 7 largest parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2014
AreaEmploymentAverage Weekly Wage (1)
March
2014
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2013-14 (2)
National
ranking by
percent change (3)
Average
weekly
wage
National
ranking by
level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2013-14 (2)
National
ranking by
percent change (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- ContinuedNote: See footnotes at end of table.

United States (4)

134,555.01.7--$1,027--3.8--

Louisiana

1,909.81.2--868282.635

Caddo, La.

114.3-1.63317792862.4182

Calcasieu, La.

87.20.32658562132.0215

East Baton Rouge, La.

265.71.21779151611.1279

Jefferson, La.

191.20.32658751862.1207

Lafayette, La.

140.00.92079541424.359

Orleans, La.

187.23.6429801251.8230

St. Tammany, La.

82.03.0648412251.0288

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from quarterly 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: Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. Data are preliminary.

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from quarterly 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: Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. Data are preliminary.


Table 2. Covered employment and wages in the United States and all parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2014
Table 2. Covered employment and wages in the United States and all parishes in Louisiana, first quarter 2014
AreaEmployment
March
2014
Average
Weekly
Wage (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- ContinuedNote: See footnotes at end of table.

United States (2)

134,554,959$1,027

Louisiana

1,909,764868

Acadia

14,851648

Allen

7,912653

Ascension

40,377989

Assumption

4,408752

Avoyelles

10,831569

Beauregard

8,426742

Bienville

4,477726

Bossier

44,367665

Caddo

114,265779

Calcasieu

87,248856

Caldwell

2,468553

Cameron

4,9911,082

Catahoula

2,254553

Claiborne

3,632681

Concordia

5,789612

De Soto

7,293965

East Baton Rouge

265,701915

East Carroll

1,822640

East Feliciana

4,772706

Evangeline

8,257607

Franklin

4,803524

Grant

3,478728

Iberia

32,484914

Iberville

14,2881,233

Jackson

3,877724

Jefferson

191,245875

Jefferson Davis

8,638688

La Salle

4,566654

Lafayette

140,038954

Lafourche

40,1661,041

Lincoln

17,528707

Livingston

23,383656

Madison

3,219525

Morehouse

7,095564

Natchitoches

13,246615

Orleans

187,209980

Ouachita

70,283704

Plaquemines

14,8581,254

Pointe Coupee

5,138648

Rapides

58,001724

Red River

2,592724

Richland

6,480567

Sabine

5,195667

St. Bernard

10,519884

St. Charles

26,2061,304

St. Helena

1,416667

St. James

7,9931,270

St. John the Baptist

14,2201,065

St. Landry

24,175641

St. Martin

13,538814

St. Mary

27,030986

St. Tammany

82,017841

Tangipahoa

41,108651

Tensas

1,054670

Terrebonne

57,267982

Union

4,758546

Vermilion

13,765800

Vernon

13,519643

Washington

10,368666

Webster

12,223706

West Baton Rouge

13,149894

West Carroll

2,336554

West Feliciana

5,1231,008

Winn

4,866630

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

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


Table 3. Covered employment and wages by state, first quarter 2014
Table 3. Covered employment and wages by state, first quarter 2014
StateEmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March
2014
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2013-14
Average
weekly
wage
National
ranking by
level
Percent change,
first quarter
2013-14
National
ranking by
percent change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- ContinuedNote: See footnotes at end of table.

United States (2)

134,555.01.7$1,027--3.8--

Alabama

1,849.50.6825381.650

Alaska

319.10.31,023153.517

Arizona

2,540.81.9918223.126

Arkansas

1,152.60.3784462.537

California

15,572.92.81,16564.55

Colorado

2,370.13.11,046134.29

Connecticut

1,627.20.51,36233.324

Delaware

412.52.01,11073.913

District of Columbia

727.31.21,70115.33

Florida

7,752.42.9868283.028

Georgia

3,974.82.6972183.418

Hawaii

624.91.2857321.942

Idaho

631.53.3722503.913

Illinois

5,651.20.91,10484.29

Indiana

2,842.51.2845351.748

Iowa

1,485.41.5824393.028

Kansas

1,343.01.7840364.111

Kentucky

1,784.11.1811402.733

Louisiana

1,909.81.2868282.635

Maine

565.90.7786451.942

Maryland

2,512.80.11,08691.847

Massachusetts

3,272.21.31,30045.33

Michigan

4,013.51.7950203.126

Minnesota

2,652.30.81,036143.418

Mississippi

1,096.80.6707511.748

Missouri

2,634.61.0866312.930

Montana

429.90.7730493.324

Nebraska

930.71.7797422.635

Nevada

1,183.53.4867302.733

New Hampshire

614.21.3970193.418

New Jersey

3,794.30.61,26352.238

New Mexico

787.00.2793431.942

New York

8,699.51.61,46027.31

North Carolina

4,003.21.7914233.418

North Dakota

428.93.3944216.72

Ohio

5,071.51.3909242.832

Oklahoma

1,565.20.7854343.913

Oregon

1,688.52.8893253.418

Pennsylvania

5,560.90.31,007164.111

Rhode Island

449.71.1996174.48

South Carolina

1,873.62.7787441.942

South Dakota

400.21.4741484.55

Tennessee

2,718.21.7874272.238

Texas

11,220.62.61,062114.55

Utah

1,270.83.1831373.418

Vermont

301.10.5807411.942

Virginia

3,613.20.01,050122.238

Washington

2,966.32.61,068103.816

West Virginia

694.6-0.9779471.451

Wisconsin

2,694.51.0856332.930

Wyoming

275.41.0877262.141

Puerto Rico

914.9-1.8521(3)1.4(3)

Virgin Islands

38.3-3.6744(3)2.6(3)

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

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

 Chart 1. Average weekly wages by parish in Louisiana, first quarter 2014