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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
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 -- 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Hawaii

58.6 638.8 0.6 -- 1,278 29 4.8 10

Honolulu

31.2 452.8 1.2 173 1,326 174 4.7 92

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
Area Establishments Employment March 2024 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,169,000 153,585,576 1,527

Hawaii

58,607 638,820 1,278

Hawaii

7,200 74,045 1,089

Honolulu

31,213 452,801 1,326

Kauai

3,408 32,345 1,139

Maui + Kalawao

7,800 72,940 1,168

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
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average 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)

12,169.0 153,585.6 1.3 1,527 -- 4.2 --

Alabama

160.7 2,091.9 1.6 1,201 37 3.3 44

Alaska

25.2 318.1 2.2 1,374 22 5.6 2

Arizona

229.4 3,257.0 2.9 1,372 23 3.1 46

Arkansas

104.6 1,292.8 1.4 1,171 44 4.0 24

California

1,835.8 18,053.0 1.5 1,833 5 5.5 3

Colorado

264.4 2,851.4 0.3 1,613 8 3.5 38

Connecticut

149.5 1,661.9 1.0 1,908 4 4.4 18

Delaware

43.0 469.3 1.8 1,484 15 3.7 33

District of Columbia

52.3 759.8 0.7 2,434 1 4.0 24

Florida

898.9 9,863.2 2.1 1,384 20 4.2 20

Georgia

401.4 4,843.9 1.3 1,441 17 4.7 12

Hawaii

58.6 638.8 0.6 1,278 29 4.8 10

Idaho

98.5 835.8 1.9 1,130 47 4.1 22

Illinois

410.2 5,966.9 0.3 1,608 9 2.7 50

Indiana

195.2 3,148.3 0.6 1,271 30 5.7 1

Iowa

110.8 1,543.1 0.9 1,214 36 3.2 45

Kansas

100.7 1,415.7 0.7 1,199 38 3.8 32

Kentucky

155.8 1,987.2 1.4 1,178 42 3.4 43

Louisiana

154.5 1,904.2 0.7 1,195 39 4.0 24

Maine

65.0 626.4 1.3 1,249 34 5.2 4

Maryland

198.4 2,690.0 0.8 1,591 10 4.5 16

Massachusetts

287.4 3,599.0 0.5 2,015 3 4.9 8

Michigan

338.6 4,351.0 1.0 1,352 24 3.5 38

Minnesota

210.5 2,850.4 0.2 1,519 14 4.0 24

Mississippi

89.5 1,157.2 0.2 980 51 3.6 36

Missouri

257.5 2,882.5 1.0 1,269 31 3.7 33

Montana

61.8 503.1 1.2 1,126 49 4.4 18

Nebraska

76.0 1,007.3 1.5 1,195 39 2.6 51

Nevada

112.1 1,534.4 2.4 1,304 28 4.7 12

New Hampshire

65.9 680.0 1.1 1,531 13 4.7 12

New Jersey

335.6 4,218.8 1.3 1,761 7 3.5 38

New Mexico

67.9 861.5 1.6 1,159 45 4.8 10

New York

709.5 9,537.4 1.8 2,089 2 3.5 38

North Carolina

395.7 4,871.0 1.8 1,401 18 4.0 24

North Dakota

36.1 419.9 1.6 1,261 33 3.7 33

Ohio

337.0 5,452.8 0.8 1,315 25 4.0 24

Oklahoma

132.9 1,690.0 1.7 1,152 46 4.0 24

Oregon

198.9 1,971.9 -0.3 1,377 21 3.1 46

Pennsylvania

392.0 5,967.0 1.1 1,449 16 3.0 48

Rhode Island

48.5 483.9 1.1 1,387 19 4.0 24

South Carolina

184.6 2,265.9 2.1 1,194 41 4.9 8

South Dakota

39.9 449.7 2.0 1,129 48 4.2 20

Tennessee

230.1 3,261.3 1.9 1,311 27 3.5 38

Texas

839.6 13,826.9 1.7 1,540 12 4.1 22

Utah

135.7 1,699.6 1.9 1,313 26 5.2 4

Vermont

32.8 307.3 0.6 1,232 35 3.6 36

Virginia

318.3 4,072.6 1.6 1,554 11 5.2 4

Washington

224.3 3,577.3 1.3 1,815 6 5.1 7

West Virginia

60.8 694.0 1.6 1,110 50 4.6 15

Wisconsin

206.0 2,899.1 0.6 1,263 32 4.5 16

Wyoming

30.8 274.1 1.1 1,177 43 2.8 49

Puerto Rico

54.7 952.8 1.6 677 (3) 4.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.9 36.5 0.9 996 (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