Employment rose in one of Nevada’s two large counties from September 2023 to September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Clark County’s employment increased 0.9 percent and Washoe County’s employment decreased 0.7 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 Nevada, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Clark	0.9
Washoe	-0.7

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the two large counties in Nevada, employment was higher in Clark County (1,118,700) in September 2024. Within Clark County’s private industry, accommodation and food services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the two largest Nevada counties accounted for 87.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 15 counties in Nevada with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 9 of the 15 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

From the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024, average weekly wages increased 5.3 percent in Washoe County and 4.3 percent in Clark County. (See chart 2.) Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Nevada, third quarter 2024

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
Washoe	5.3
Clark	4.3

Weekly wages in Washoe County ($1,326) and Clark County ($1,209) were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Among the 15 smaller counties in Nevada—those with employment below 75,000—six reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Eureka County ($2,326) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, while Lincoln County ($994) reported the lowest.

When all 17 counties in Nevada were considered, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,199, 3 registered wages from $1,200 to $1,299, 4 had wages from $1,300 to $1,399, and 5 had average weekly wages of $1,400 or higher. (See map 1.)