Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

24-2089-SAN
Thursday, October 03, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

County Employment and Wages in Hawaii — First Quarter 2024

Employment rose in Hawaii’s only large county, Honolulu, from March 2023 to March 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Honolulu County had over-the-year employment growth of 1.2 percent. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 1.3 percent over the year, with 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Monterey, CA, and St. Johns, FL, had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 4.8 percent each. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-4.9 percent).

Employment in Honolulu County was 452,800 in March 2024, accounting for 70.9 percent of total employment in Hawaii. Within Honolulu County’s private industry, accommodation and food services accounted for the largest employment. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties made up 73.3 percent of total covered U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the three counties in Hawaii with employment below 75,000. All three smaller counties had average weekly wages below the national average of $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

From the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, the average weekly wage in Honolulu County increased 4.7 percent.

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.2 percent over the year. Among the 369 largest counties in the United States, 357 had over-the-year wage increases. Santa Clara, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+14.6 percent). Saginaw, MI, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-3.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

The average weekly wage in Honolulu County ($1,326, 174th) placed in the top half of the 369 largest U.S. counties. Nationally, the average weekly wage was $1,527 in the first quarter of 2024.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($4,385). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 284 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($807).

Chart 1. Average weekly wages by county in Hawaii, First Quarter 2024

U.S. average = $1,527

 
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 second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the second quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Changes for the 2024 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2023 are included in this release and will be included in future 2024 releases. Seven counties have been added to the nationwide publication tables: Martin, FL; Sarpy, NE; Doña Ana, NM; Kent, RI; Ector, TX; Gregg, TX; and Racine, WI. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

New Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions, and those for other types of Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), were announced in July 2023. With the full data update for first quarter 2024 on September 4, 2024, QCEW data reflect the new definitions. Data based on the new area definitions are available in the BLS online database. Historical data will not be re-tabulated to reflect the new definitions. The announcement regarding new metropolitan statistical area delineations for 2024 provides more information regarding the new area definitions.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in Hawaii, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,169.0153,585.61.3--1,527--4.2--

Hawaii

58.6638.80.6--1,278294.810

Honolulu

31.2452.81.21731,3261744.792

Footnotes:
(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 Hawaii, first quarter 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment March 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000153,585,5761,527

Hawaii

58,607638,8201,278

Hawaii

7,20074,0451,089

Honolulu

31,213452,8011,326

Kauai

3,40832,3451,139

Maui + Kalawao

7,80072,9401,168

Footnotes:
(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, first quarter 2024
StateEstablishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
March 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2023–24
First quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,169.0153,585.61.31,527--4.2--

Alabama

160.72,091.91.61,201373.344

Alaska

25.2318.12.21,374225.62

Arizona

229.43,257.02.91,372233.146

Arkansas

104.61,292.81.41,171444.024

California

1,835.818,053.01.51,83355.53

Colorado

264.42,851.40.31,61383.538

Connecticut

149.51,661.91.01,90844.418

Delaware

43.0469.31.81,484153.733

District of Columbia

52.3759.80.72,43414.024

Florida

898.99,863.22.11,384204.220

Georgia

401.44,843.91.31,441174.712

Hawaii

58.6638.80.61,278294.810

Idaho

98.5835.81.91,130474.122

Illinois

410.25,966.90.31,60892.750

Indiana

195.23,148.30.61,271305.71

Iowa

110.81,543.10.91,214363.245

Kansas

100.71,415.70.71,199383.832

Kentucky

155.81,987.21.41,178423.443

Louisiana

154.51,904.20.71,195394.024

Maine

65.0626.41.31,249345.24

Maryland

198.42,690.00.81,591104.516

Massachusetts

287.43,599.00.52,01534.98

Michigan

338.64,351.01.01,352243.538

Minnesota

210.52,850.40.21,519144.024

Mississippi

89.51,157.20.2980513.636

Missouri

257.52,882.51.01,269313.733

Montana

61.8503.11.21,126494.418

Nebraska

76.01,007.31.51,195392.651

Nevada

112.11,534.42.41,304284.712

New Hampshire

65.9680.01.11,531134.712

New Jersey

335.64,218.81.31,76173.538

New Mexico

67.9861.51.61,159454.810

New York

709.59,537.41.82,08923.538

North Carolina

395.74,871.01.81,401184.024

North Dakota

36.1419.91.61,261333.733

Ohio

337.05,452.80.81,315254.024

Oklahoma

132.91,690.01.71,152464.024

Oregon

198.91,971.9-0.31,377213.146

Pennsylvania

392.05,967.01.11,449163.048

Rhode Island

48.5483.91.11,387194.024

South Carolina

184.62,265.92.11,194414.98

South Dakota

39.9449.72.01,129484.220

Tennessee

230.13,261.31.91,311273.538

Texas

839.613,826.91.71,540124.122

Utah

135.71,699.61.91,313265.24

Vermont

32.8307.30.61,232353.636

Virginia

318.34,072.61.61,554115.24

Washington

224.33,577.31.31,81565.17

West Virginia

60.8694.01.61,110504.615

Wisconsin

206.02,899.10.61,263324.516

Wyoming

30.8274.11.11,177432.849

Puerto Rico

54.7952.81.6677(3)4.8(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.50.9996(3)1.6(3)

Footnotes:
(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: Thursday, October 03, 2024