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Thursday, June 25, 2015
Employment increased in the three largest Arkansas counties from December 2013 to December 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with 2013 annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more.) Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that the rates of job growth in two of the large Arkansas counties exceeded the national average. Benton County’s 5.5-percent job gain ranked ninth nationwide and Washington County’s 3.5-percent gain ranked 66th. (See table 1.)
Nationally, employment advanced 2.2 percent from December 2013 to December 2014 with 319 of the 339 largest U.S. counties registering increases. Weld, Colo., and Midland, Texas, recorded the largest percentage increases in the country, each up 8.0 percent over the year. Atlantic, N.J., registered the largest percentage employment decline among large counties, down 5.0 percent.
Among the three largest counties in Arkansas, employment was highest in Pulaski County (245,900) in December 2014. Benton and Washington Counties had employment levels of 108,300 and 98,100, respectively. Together, the three largest Arkansas counties accounted for 38.3 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 339 largest counties made up 72.1 percent of total U.S. employment.
From the fourth quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2014, Benton County’s 9.9-percent increase in average weekly wages ranked first among the 339 large U.S. counties. (See table 1.) Benton also recorded the highest average weekly wage among the state’s large counties at $996 per week. Nationally, the average weekly wage increased 3.5 percent from a year ago to $1,035 in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 72 counties in Arkansas with employment levels below 75,000. Wage levels in all of these smaller counties were below the national average in December 2014. (See table 2.)
Large county wage changesThe three largest Arkansas counties recorded wage growth rates that exceeded the 3.5-percent national average increase from the fourth quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2014. (See table 1.) As noted, Benton County’s 9.9-percent rise in average weekly wages ranked first among the nation’s 339 largest counties. Within Benton, an average weekly wage gain of 16.2 percent in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages. In Washington County, average weekly wages were up 4.3 percent over the year, ranking 87th, and Pulaski’s 3.7-percent wage gain ranked 143rd.
Nationally, 332 of the 339 largest counties registered over-the-year wage increases from the fourth quarter of 2013. Following Benton County’s 9.9-percent average weekly wage increase, were the counties of Washington, Pa. (9.2 percent), Midland, Texas (9.0 percent), Brazoria, Texas (8.9 percent), and Douglas, Colo. (8.8 percent).
Among the large U.S. counties, seven experienced over-the-year decreases in average weekly wages. San Mateo, Calif., had the largest percentage decline in average weekly wages with a loss of 20.4 percent over the year. Olmsted, Minn., had the second largest decrease in average weekly wages, down 5.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013, followed by Morris, N.J. (-2.9 percent), and Rockland, N.Y. (-1.3 percent).
Large county average weekly wagesDespite registering above average over-the-year wage increases, the weekly wage levels in the state’s three large counties were below the national average ($1,035) in the fourth quarter of 2014. Benton County's average weekly wage of $996 ranked 128th among the 339 large U.S. counties. Pulaski ($936) ranked 175th and Washington ($896) ranked 212th nationally.
Seventy-two percent of the largest U.S. counties (244) reported weekly wages below the national average of $1,035 in the fourth quarter of 2014. Horry County, S.C., reported the lowest wage ($610), followed by the Texas counties of Cameron ($621) and Hidalgo ($641).
Nationally, 95 large counties registered weekly wages above the U.S. average. San Mateo, Calif., held the top position with an average weekly wage of $2,166. New York, N.Y., was second at $2,138, followed by Santa Clara, Calif., at $2,114. Average wages in the highest-ranked county, San Mateo, Calif., were more than three times the average wage in the lowest-ranked county, Horry, S.C. ($610).
Average weekly wages in Arkansas’s smaller countiesAll 72 of Arkansas’s smaller counties – those with employment below 75,000 – reported weekly wages below the national average of $1,035 in the fourth quarter of 2014. Among these counties, Calhoun ($994) and Van Buren ($864) posted the highest weekly wages, while Newton reported the lowest ($477). (See table 2.)
When all 75 counties in Arkansas were considered, 7 reported average weekly wages under $550, 28 reported wages from $550 to $649, 25 had wages from $650 to $749, 7 had wages from $750 to $849, and 8 averaged $850 or more per week. (See chart 1.) Higher-paying counties were located around the metropolitan areas of Blytheville, Fayetteville, Little Rock, and along the southern border of the state. Lower-paying counties were generally concentrated in the northern portion of the state.
Additional statistics and other informationQCEW 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 2013 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 2014 version of the national news release. Tables and additional content from Employment and Wages Annual Averages 2013 are now available online at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/2013/home.htm. The 2014 edition of Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online will be available in September 2015.
The County Employment and Wages release for first quarter 2015 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, September 17, 2015.
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 9.2 million employer reports cover 134.0 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.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Area | Employment | Average Weekly Wage (1) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2014 (thousands) | Percent change, December 2013-14 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | Average weekly wage | National ranking by level (3) | Percent change, fourth quarter 2013-14 (2) | National ranking by percent change (3) | |
United States (4) |
139,204.8 | 2.2 | -- | $1,035 | -- | 3.5 | -- |
Arkansas |
1,180.5 | 2.2 | -- | 807 | 47 | 4.5 | 5 |
Benton, Ark. |
108.3 | 5.5 | 9 | 996 | 128 | 9.9 | 1 |
Pulaski, Ark. |
245.9 | 0.7 | 272 | 936 | 175 | 3.7 | 143 |
Washington, Ark. |
98.1 | 3.5 | 66 | 896 | 212 | 4.3 | 87 |
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. |
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Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. |
Area | Employment December 2014 |
Average Weekly Wage (1) |
---|---|---|
United States (2) |
139,204,840 | $1,035 |
Arkansas |
1,180,489 | 807 |
Arkansas |
10,245 | 778 |
Ashley |
6,896 | 789 |
Baxter |
14,675 | 713 |
Benton |
108,310 | 996 |
Boone |
13,788 | 733 |
Bradley |
3,748 | 602 |
Calhoun |
2,617 | 994 |
Carroll |
10,449 | 564 |
Chicot |
3,330 | 621 |
Clark |
9,212 | 624 |
Clay |
3,574 | 580 |
Cleburne |
6,681 | 639 |
Cleveland |
1,051 | 592 |
Columbia |
8,478 | 794 |
Conway |
7,143 | 715 |
Craighead |
47,082 | 738 |
Crawford |
19,287 | 693 |
Crittenden |
16,353 | 664 |
Cross |
5,064 | 650 |
Dallas |
2,710 | 569 |
Desha |
4,585 | 667 |
Drew |
6,550 | 630 |
Faulkner |
40,950 | 775 |
Franklin |
4,371 | 715 |
Fulton |
1,926 | 514 |
Garland |
35,742 | 684 |
Grant |
4,000 | 723 |
Greene |
15,353 | 697 |
Hempstead |
7,894 | 677 |
Hot Spring |
8,517 | 678 |
Howard |
6,292 | 631 |
Independence |
14,781 | 690 |
Izard |
3,162 | 582 |
Jackson |
5,210 | 695 |
Jefferson |
29,151 | 798 |
Johnson |
8,566 | 621 |
Lafayette |
1,280 | 710 |
Lawrence |
4,202 | 579 |
Lee |
1,994 | 660 |
Lincoln |
2,976 | 642 |
Little River |
3,580 | 863 |
Logan |
5,494 | 633 |
Lonoke |
13,711 | 652 |
Madison |
3,262 | 603 |
Marion |
3,872 | 610 |
Miller |
13,334 | 752 |
Mississippi |
18,929 | 850 |
Monroe |
2,199 | 577 |
Montgomery |
1,396 | 518 |
Nevada |
2,405 | 635 |
Newton |
1,126 | 477 |
Ouachita |
7,090 | 650 |
Perry |
1,260 | 596 |
Phillips |
5,752 | 645 |
Pike |
2,397 | 563 |
Poinsett |
5,123 | 685 |
Polk |
6,182 | 588 |
Pope |
27,156 | 711 |
Prairie |
1,621 | 681 |
Pulaski |
245,853 | 936 |
Randolph |
4,666 | 540 |
Saline |
22,564 | 678 |
Scott |
3,150 | 561 |
Searcy |
1,614 | 493 |
Sebastian |
65,911 | 797 |
Sevier |
4,894 | 587 |
Sharp |
3,836 | 541 |
St. Francis |
8,010 | 631 |
Stone |
2,478 | 536 |
Union |
18,220 | 861 |
Van Buren |
3,930 | 864 |
Washington |
98,102 | 896 |
White |
24,881 | 717 |
Woodruff |
1,894 | 634 |
Yell |
6,550 | 583 |
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. |
||
Note: Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs. Data are preliminary. |
State | Employment | Average weekly wage (1) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 2014 (thousands) | Percent change, December 2013-14 | Average weekly wage | National ranking by level | Percent change, fourth quarter 2013-14 | National ranking by percent change | |
United States (2) |
139,204.8 | 2.2 | $1,035 | -- | 3.5 | -- |
Alabama |
1,891.4 | 1.3 | 881 | 35 | 3.5 | 31 |
Alaska |
317.6 | 0.8 | 1,063 | 13 | 4.0 | 20 |
Arizona |
2,630.8 | 2.2 | 926 | 25 | 2.3 | 47 |
Arkansas |
1,180.5 | 2.2 | 807 | 47 | 4.5 | 5 |
California |
16,068.5 | 2.6 | 1,209 | 6 | 2.9 | 41 |
Colorado |
2,478.0 | 3.9 | 1,066 | 12 | 4.1 | 17 |
Connecticut |
1,681.2 | 1.2 | 1,278 | 4 | 2.7 | 45 |
Delaware |
433.0 | 2.9 | 1,049 | 16 | 1.5 | 51 |
District of Columbia |
736.9 | 0.9 | 1,696 | 1 | 3.7 | 28 |
Florida |
8,009.6 | 3.5 | 911 | 28 | 3.1 | 40 |
Georgia |
4,131.9 | 3.7 | 958 | 21 | 3.8 | 25 |
Hawaii |
638.3 | 0.7 | 908 | 29 | 4.2 | 15 |
Idaho |
650.7 | 2.5 | 782 | 50 | 4.0 | 20 |
Illinois |
5,844.1 | 1.4 | 1,089 | 8 | 2.8 | 42 |
Indiana |
2,946.5 | 1.7 | 846 | 41 | 3.9 | 22 |
Iowa |
1,527.6 | 1.1 | 870 | 38 | 4.3 | 11 |
Kansas |
1,377.2 | 1.3 | 855 | 39 | 2.6 | 46 |
Kentucky |
1,852.2 | 1.8 | 836 | 43 | 4.1 | 17 |
Louisiana |
1,954.0 | 2.1 | 923 | 26 | 3.8 | 25 |
Maine |
592.7 | 0.9 | 826 | 44 | 5.1 | 4 |
Maryland |
2,590.3 | 1.3 | 1,113 | 7 | 3.5 | 31 |
Massachusetts |
3,415.6 | 2.2 | 1,315 | 3 | 4.5 | 5 |
Michigan |
4,158.9 | 2.1 | 984 | 20 | 3.3 | 37 |
Minnesota |
2,762.9 | 1.4 | 1,024 | 17 | 3.6 | 30 |
Mississippi |
1,118.6 | 1.0 | 747 | 51 | 2.3 | 47 |
Missouri |
2,709.8 | 1.5 | 891 | 32 | 3.4 | 34 |
Montana |
442.2 | 0.5 | 794 | 48 | 4.5 | 5 |
Nebraska |
958.1 | 1.4 | 837 | 42 | 5.2 | 3 |
Nevada |
1,229.6 | 4.2 | 899 | 30 | 1.6 | 50 |
New Hampshire |
638.0 | 1.4 | 1,081 | 10 | 6.3 | 2 |
New Jersey |
3,933.6 | 1.3 | 1,211 | 5 | 2.0 | 49 |
New Mexico |
808.4 | 1.3 | 850 | 40 | 4.4 | 10 |
New York |
9,067.6 | 2.0 | 1,321 | 2 | 4.3 | 11 |
North Carolina |
4,141.8 | 2.4 | 890 | 33 | 3.4 | 34 |
North Dakota |
454.8 | 4.5 | 1,050 | 15 | 7.1 | 1 |
Ohio |
5,264.3 | 1.6 | 922 | 27 | 3.9 | 22 |
Oklahoma |
1,614.3 | 2.1 | 876 | 36 | 2.8 | 42 |
Oregon |
1,755.4 | 3.2 | 928 | 23 | 3.8 | 25 |
Pennsylvania |
5,716.5 | 1.2 | 1,013 | 18 | 3.7 | 28 |
Rhode Island |
471.5 | 1.9 | 1,003 | 19 | 4.5 | 5 |
South Carolina |
1,931.4 | 2.9 | 817 | 46 | 3.2 | 39 |
South Dakota |
412.5 | 1.3 | 791 | 49 | 4.2 | 15 |
Tennessee |
2,822.1 | 2.4 | 927 | 24 | 3.5 | 31 |
Texas |
11,662.7 | 3.7 | 1,070 | 11 | 4.3 | 11 |
Utah |
1,324.2 | 3.0 | 872 | 37 | 4.3 | 11 |
Vermont |
311.0 | 0.7 | 882 | 34 | 4.1 | 17 |
Virginia |
3,691.4 | 0.6 | 1,057 | 14 | 2.8 | 42 |
Washington |
3,069.7 | 3.2 | 1,082 | 9 | 4.5 | 5 |
West Virginia |
712.0 | 0.1 | 818 | 45 | 3.3 | 37 |
Wisconsin |
2,789.3 | 1.3 | 894 | 31 | 3.4 | 34 |
Wyoming |
283.6 | 1.5 | 952 | 22 | 3.9 | 22 |
Puerto Rico |
944.2 | -1.5 | 556 | (3) | 0.7 | (3) |
Virgin Islands |
38.5 | -0.3 | 746 | (3) | -1.2 | (3) |
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. |
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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: Thursday, June 25, 2015