Employment increased in 2 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas from September 2024 to September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Jerome Watters noted that Benton County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 3.6 percent. (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, September 2025

County	Percent change, September 2025
Benton	3.6
Washington	1.4
Pulaski	-0.3

Among the three largest counties in Arkansas, employment was highest in Pulaski (262,000) in September 2025. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 41.0 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.2 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

All three large Arkansas counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Benton had the largest increase (+4.6 percent). Average weekly wages in the two other large counties, Pulaski and Washington, rose 3.4 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Arkansas, third quarter 2025

County	Percent change, third quarter 2025
Benton	4.6
Pulaski	3.4
Washington	2.7

Weekly wages in 1 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas were above the national average of $1,459. Benton’s weekly wage of $1,582 was above the national average of $1,459. Average weekly wages were $1,229 in Pulaski and $1,138 in Washington.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 72 small counties in Arkansas, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 70 of the 72 smaller counties were below the national average. Calhoun reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,531), followed by Mississippi ($1,500). Searcy reported the lowest average weekly wage ($708) in the state.

Among all 75 Arkansas counties, 11 reported average weekly wages of $799 or less, 29 registered wages from $800 to $899, 24 had wages from $900 to $999, and 11 had wages of $1,000 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3.

Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release. Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

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The County Employment and Wages release for the fourth quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.