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News Release Information

23-2695-SAN
Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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

County Employment and Wages in Alaska — Second Quarter 2023

Employment increased 2.3 percent in Alaska’s only large county, Anchorage Municipality, from June 2022 to June 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.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that in June 2023, Anchorage Municipality’s employment totaled 148,500 and accounted for 43.4 percent of total employment within the state. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 2.4 percent over the year, with 337 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Midland, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+7.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-7.7 percent).

Alaska additionally consists of 17 smaller boroughs, 11 census areas, and 1 municipality, each of which is considered a county-level equivalent. Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for these 29 county equivalents in Alaska with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 23 of the 29 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,332 in the second quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

From the second quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2023, the average weekly wage in Anchorage Municipality rose 2.1 percent, compared to a 3.2-percent increase nationwide. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 332 had over-the-year wage increases. Clayton, GA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+17.2 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-13.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Anchorage Municipality’s $1,333 average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2023 ranked among the 88 largest U.S. counties and equivalents above the U.S. average ($1,332). Among the largest U.S. counties, 88 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,321). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 272 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($795).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 29 smaller counties in Alaska—those with employment below 75,000—6 had average weekly wages higher than the national average of $1,332. North Slope Borough ($2,251) reported highest average weekly wage in the state, while Kusilvak Census Area ($824) reported the lowest.

When all 30 counties in Alaska were considered, 7 reported average weekly wages of less than $1,000, 7 registered wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 6 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 10 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by borough in Alaska, second quarter 2023

(U.S. average = $1,332)

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 third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest borough in Alaska, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 -- $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Alaska

25.3 342.4 3.6 -- 1,285 15 3.9 17

Anchorage

8.6 148.5 2.3 140 1,333 88 2.1 239

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 county-equivalent entities in Alaska, second quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment June 2023 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,964,606 154,308,523 $1,332

Alaska

25,340 342,402 1,285

Aleutians East Borough

102 3,241 1,228

Aleutians West Census Area

163 2,958 1,489

Anchorage Municipality

8,642 148,458 1,333

Bethel Census Area

337 6,972 1,059

Bristol Bay Borough

133 2,713 997

Chugach Census Area

416 4,616 1,360

Copper River Census Area

154 1,368 1,040

Denali Borough

150 3,687 1,127

Dillingham Census Area

163 2,517 1,168

Fairbanks North Star Borough

2,417 36,814 1,273

Haines Borough

162 1,243 841

Hoonah-Angoon Census Area

139 1,333 825

Juneau City and Borough

1,151 18,190 1,282

Kenai Peninsula Borough

2,366 23,539 1,133

Ketchikan Gateway Borough

617 8,235 1,072

Kodiak Island Borough

480 6,146 1,109

Kusilvak Census Area

134 1,759 824

Lake and Peninsula Borough

117 975 903

Mantanuska-Susitna Borough

2,725 30,110 1,048

Nome Census Area

300 3,909 1,362

North Slope Borough

232 10,417 2,251

Northwest Arctic Borough

157 2,876 1,701

Petersburg Borough

172 1,436 1,000

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area

249 2,263 981

Sitka City and Borough

404 4,879 1,143

Skagway Municipality

122 1,259 1,020

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

250 3,070 1,564

Wrangell City and Borough

104 793 1,059

Yakutat City and Borough

48 403 1,169

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

254 2,402 916

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, second quarter 2023
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2022–23
Second quarter
2023
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,964.6 154,308.5 2.4 $1,332 -- 3.2 --

Alabama

156.7 2,079.2 2.7 1,107 35 4.0 13

Alaska

25.3 342.4 3.6 1,285 15 3.9 17

Arizona

219.1 3,091.7 3.0 1,265 18 3.9 17

Arkansas

103.2 1,284.8 2.6 1,033 50 3.8 19

California

1,767.7 18,151.1 0.9 1,624 4 3.4 26

Colorado

256.6 2,914.3 2.7 1,426 8 4.8 5

Connecticut

148.0 1,692.0 1.8 1,511 6 3.8 19

Delaware

41.6 476.2 3.0 1,248 19 2.3 44

District of Columbia

51.3 762.6 2.2 2,193 1 3.7 23

Florida

891.8 9,547.7 3.7 1,234 21 4.3 8

Georgia

384.5 4,802.8 2.2 1,247 20 2.6 39

Hawaii

56.5 636.0 3.2 1,198 24 4.0 13

Idaho

94.3 855.8 3.1 1,038 48 3.3 30

Illinois

410.8 6,101.2 1.9 1,357 12 2.6 39

Indiana

191.1 3,164.7 1.5 1,102 37 2.0 47

Iowa

110.5 1,581.8 1.1 1,082 42 2.6 39

Kansas

98.7 1,428.6 3.2 1,081 43 4.0 13

Kentucky

150.1 1,974.5 2.8 1,100 38 3.0 35

Louisiana

153.8 1,887.3 1.7 1,093 40 2.7 38

Maine

65.0 654.1 2.1 1,123 34 3.3 30

Maryland

187.1 2,716.4 2.1 1,402 9 2.2 45

Massachusetts

296.4 3,703.4 1.2 1,670 2 2.0 47

Michigan

318.4 4,463.0 2.5 1,220 23 3.4 26

Minnesota

205.7 2,964.0 2.3 1,315 14 2.2 45

Mississippi

87.7 1,158.0 1.4 924 51 4.3 8

Missouri

246.7 2,908.7 2.0 1,150 32 4.0 13

Montana

65.5 521.0 3.0 1,072 46 4.4 7

Nebraska

76.8 1,022.1 3.0 1,092 41 3.4 26

Nevada

106.7 1,522.8 3.2 1,189 27 2.9 36

New Hampshire

65.3 694.8 2.3 1,387 10 3.2 32

New Jersey

330.2 4,341.4 2.8 1,464 7 1.6 50

New Mexico

66.7 859.1 3.8 1,107 35 6.5 1

New York

699.6 9,623.8 2.4 1,621 5 2.5 42

North Carolina

370.9 4,857.5 3.3 1,198 24 3.4 26

North Dakota

35.4 430.4 2.9 1,184 28 4.9 3

Ohio

341.8 5,521.9 1.7 1,160 31 3.1 34

Oklahoma

129.7 1,669.0 3.1 1,052 47 3.6 25

Oregon

200.8 2,010.7 2.2 1,281 16 2.4 43

Pennsylvania

393.0 6,014.8 1.9 1,277 17 2.0 47

Rhode Island

48.0 498.8 1.3 1,221 22 -0.3 51

South Carolina

175.9 2,248.6 2.8 1,079 44 3.7 23

South Dakota

39.6 466.8 2.7 1,035 49 3.8 19

Tennessee

215.9 3,254.2 3.0 1,195 26 3.8 19

Texas

824.9 13,716.3 3.9 1,322 13 3.2 32

Utah

135.7 1,699.4 2.8 1,183 29 4.2 11

Vermont

31.8 310.3 2.3 1,175 30 4.1 12

Virginia

357.1 4,082.3 2.8 1,371 11 4.3 8

Washington

241.0 3,639.8 2.7 1,649 3 4.9 3

West Virginia

58.8 695.7 2.9 1,075 45 6.1 2

Wisconsin

204.4 2,975.8 1.9 1,126 33 2.9 36

Wyoming

30.5 288.6 2.7 1,096 39 4.6 6

Puerto Rico

52.6 929.7 1.6 622 (3) 4.2 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.3 4.7 992 (3) 1.1 (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: Wednesday, January 10, 2024