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News Release Information

24-1132-DAL
Friday, June 14, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

County Employment and Wages in Arkansas — Fourth Quarter 2023

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 22nd among the 360 large U.S. counties. (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 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.)

Large county wage changes

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).

 

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).

Large county average weekly wages

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 156th among the 360 large U.S counties, followed by Pulaski County ($1,228, 218th). Washington County’s average weekly wage of $1,124 ranked 300th.

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).

Average weekly wages in Arkansas' smaller counties

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.)

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

(U.S. City 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.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Arkansas, fourth quarter 2023
AreaEstablishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage 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)

12,090.1154,848.11.5--1,435--3.6--

Arkansas

103.21,294.01.4--1,089502.149

Benton

8.2141.01.31811,3191564.478

Pulaski

14.2261.81.61501,2282182.8241

Washington

6.9121.03.2221,124300-2.9354

(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 Arkansas, fourth quarter 2023
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment December 2023Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,090,132154,848,1131,435

Arkansas

103,1811,293,9831,089

Arkansas

92210,296998

Ashley

5035,7371,017

Baxter

1,30316,061884

Benton

8,215141,0081,319

Boone

98114,679929

Bradley

3273,712824

Calhoun

1063,0931,359

Carroll

80610,531765

Chicot

3552,746892

Clark

6688,725864

Clay

3523,006850

Cleburne

6396,509813

Cleveland

1281,008965

Columbia

6288,194978

Conway

5056,764950

Craighead

3,03054,8221,030

Crawford

1,27219,484929

Crittenden

1,08115,801935

Cross

4654,714803

Dallas

2212,608829

Desha

4324,382930

Drew

5166,559838

Faulkner

3,25145,426946

Franklin

4034,922849

Fulton

2151,852781

Garland

3,22838,193890

Grant

3464,4691,063

Greene

94215,957932

Hempstead

5027,644891

Hot Spring

6158,097927

Howard

3456,253804

Independence

94317,5251,095

Izard

2673,006821

Jackson

4205,046957

Jefferson

1,67025,652999

Johnson

4988,360765

Lafayette

161979778

Lawrence

3934,074835

Lee

2131,677877

Lincoln

2292,600912

Little River

2303,0441,082

Logan

4555,203782

Lonoke

1,40015,141832

Madison

2853,549856

Marion

2983,295802

Miller

89512,3801,008

Mississippi

1,00418,5671,344

Monroe

2311,819816

Montgomery

1711,254705

Nevada

1901,897872

Newton

120976721

Ouachita

5827,234905

Perry

1461,035803

Phillips

5814,512840

Pike

2682,624867

Poinsett

4645,2421,024

Polk

4835,884775

Pope

1,78327,311945

Prairie

2261,593841

Pulaski

14,234261,8411,228

Randolph

3995,920821

St. Francis

5816,729949

Saline

2,41827,477922

Scott

1863,217717

Searcy

1651,384718

Sebastian

3,75666,0071,037

Sevier

3215,100809

Sharp

4013,949744

Stone

2902,706732

Union

1,18016,6351,090

Van Buren

3403,783821

Washington

6,908121,0271,124

White

1,81125,628874

Woodruff

1811,942930

Yell

4196,608789

(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
StateEstablishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage 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)

12,090.1154,848.11.51,435--3.6--

Alabama

159.12,101.12.01,207354.215

Alaska

25.2311.62.41,372165.52

Arizona

226.43,231.42.21,322213.821

Arkansas

103.21,294.01.41,089502.149

California

1,792.218,111.40.21,75944.89

Colorado

263.22,930.12.51,51693.038

Connecticut

151.01,690.01.31,63262.446

Delaware

43.2472.91.31,373152.247

District of Columbia

52.6759.90.72,38514.116

Florida

904.49,870.12.51,328203.432

Georgia

391.74,866.41.31,331193.530

Hawaii

58.3643.30.81,288245.07

Idaho

96.3854.93.51,137461.950

Illinois

410.66,051.90.81,479123.432

Indiana

191.43,187.10.91,171413.626

Iowa

110.71,564.01.01,199364.018

Kansas

100.11,431.81.11,167423.725

Kentucky

154.02,004.41.81,146454.116

Louisiana

154.21,905.40.81,193375.35

Maine

64.8636.81.41,209343.821

Maryland

193.82,730.42.31,509103.136

Massachusetts

292.93,655.40.81,80520.751

Michigan

330.94,407.81.21,316223.334

Minnesota

209.22,909.91.21,400143.136

Mississippi

89.11,170.90.7983513.821

Missouri

253.92,906.31.61,222334.314

Montana

68.2510.01.81,178405.43

Nebraska

76.81,018.52.01,187392.940

Nevada

108.51,556.73.61,271282.247

New Hampshire

67.1689.21.41,52782.841

New Jersey

333.84,293.11.31,57472.644

New Mexico

68.6868.32.31,165434.98

New York

699.79,627.11.71,78332.841

North Carolina

383.84,917.92.51,280273.626

North Dakota

36.1427.02.71,267295.26

Ohio

333.95,514.51.11,245313.626

Oklahoma

132.61,697.11.91,123494.711

Oregon

206.11,985.51.01,338182.841

Pennsylvania

392.46,023.41.21,360173.038

Rhode Island

48.3492.31.31,302233.334

South Carolina

180.82,278.02.61,153443.821

South Dakota

40.0456.02.51,136473.626

Tennessee

225.93,276.91.61,285252.545

Texas

835.113,905.42.31,427134.018

Utah

139.01,713.52.11,285254.513

Vermont

32.6310.31.51,250303.530

Virginia

316.74,089.81.71,482114.711

Washington

243.03,590.91.61,74256.71

West Virginia

59.9693.51.21,126485.43

Wisconsin

208.02,936.61.01,233323.920

Wyoming

30.8277.41.51,191384.89

Puerto Rico

54.4975.70.0688(3)3.3(3)

Virgin Islands

3.836.21.61,024(3)0.7(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: 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: Friday, June 14, 2024