Employment rose in the three largest counties in Arkansas 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.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Washington County (+3.2 percent) had the largest over-the-year increase in employment. Washington’s rate of job gain ranked 22^nd among the 360 large U.S. counties. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Arkansas, December 2023

County	Percent change, December 2023
Washington	3.2
Pulaski	1.6
Benton	1.3

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 three largest counties in Arkansas, employment was highest in Pulaski County (261,800) in December 2023. Within Pulaski County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the three largest Arkansas counties accounted for 40.5 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 72 counties in Arkansas with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 72 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Benton County and Pulaski County reported gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023, 4.4 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. (See chart 2.) Washington County was the only large county in Arkansas to report an average weekly wage loss (-2.9 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Arkansas, fourth quarter 2023

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2023
Benton	4.4
Pulaski	2.8
Washington	-2.9

Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. 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).

Weekly wages in all three of the largest counties in Arkansas were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Benton County’s average weekly wage of $1,319 ranked 156^th among the 360 large U.S counties, followed by Pulaski County ($1,228, 218^th). Washington County’s average weekly wage of $1,124 ranked 300^th.

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).

Among the 72 smaller counties in Arkansas—those with employment below 75,000— Calhoun County ($1,359) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, followed by Mississippi County ($1,344). Montgomery County ($705) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 75 counties in Arkansas were considered, 13 reported average weekly wages of less than $800, 29 registered wages from $800 to $899, 19 had wages from $900 to $999, and 14 had average weekly wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1.)