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News Release Information

22-2355-CHI
Thursday, January 05, 2023

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

County Employment and Wages in Iowa — Second Quarter 2022

Employment rose in the four largest counties in Iowa from June 2021 to June 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2021.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that Polk County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.3 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 4.0 percent over the year, with 338 of the 355 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Orange, FL, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 9.7 percent. Kanawha, WV, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 1.0 percent.

Among the four largest counties in Iowa, employment was highest in Polk County (307,200) in June 2022. Within Polk County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the four largest Iowa counties accounted for 39.0 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 355 largest counties made up 72.8 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 95 counties in Iowa with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in the 95 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,294 in the second quarter of 2022. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All four large Iowa counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2022. (See chart 2.) Three counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 4.3 percent. Linn County had the largest gain (+6.3 percent), followed by Scott County (+5.1 percent) and Polk County (+4.8 percent).


Among the 355 largest counties in the United States, 340 had over-the-year wage increases. Saratoga, NY, had the largest percentage wage increase (+16.3 percent). Benton, AR, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-16.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the four largest counties in Iowa were below the national average of $1,294 in the second quarter of 2022. Polk County's average weekly wage of $1,244 ranked 120th among the 355 largest U.S. counties. Weekly wages in Linn County ($1,187) and Johnson County ($1,134) ranked 158th and 198th, respectively.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 91 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2022. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,262. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 264 counties. At $767 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Iowa’s smaller counties

Among the 95 smaller counties in Iowa—those with employment below 75,000—all reported average weekly wages below the national average of $1,294. Dallas County ($1,273) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state and Decatur County ($753) reported the lowest.

When all 99 counties in Iowa were considered, 21 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 22 registered wages from $850 to $899, 30 had wages from $900 to $949, and 26 had average weekly wages of $950 or higher. (See chart 3.)

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

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. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for third quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Improved Usability of QCEW State and Local Government Employment and Wages

With the Second Quarter 2022 QCEW data released December 6th, 2022, state and local government employment and wage measures include data for some states that were previously suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Publication of these data is possible because state and local government employment and wages are fully disclosable by law in many states. The improved data account for an employment of about 4.2 million in June 2022. Suppressed data were always included in totals and do not represent an increase in employment.

More information is available on the website about the improved usability of state and local government data.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

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.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the four largest counties in Iowa, second quarter 2022
Area Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2022
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,460.8 149,902.0 4.0 -- $1,294 -- 4.3 --

Iowa

110.2 1,555.3 1.7 -- 1,057 40 5.8 22

Johnson

5.0 82.1 1.9 253 1,134 198 2.4 300

Linn

7.6 128.8 1.8 265 1,187 158 6.3 85

Polk

20.0 307.2 3.3 156 1,244 120 4.8 166

Scott

6.1 89.1 1.9 253 1,016 299 5.1 144

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 Iowa, second quarter 2022
Area Establishments Employment June 2022 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,460,819 149,901,995 $1,294

Iowa

110,192 1,555,253 1,057

Adair

331 3,001 919

Adams

162 1,308 855

Allamakee

461 5,004 805

Appanoose

384 4,705 811

Audubon

231 1,800 857

Benton

698 6,040 850

Black Hawk

3,919 72,133 1,044

Boone

749 8,944 911

Bremer

725 9,993 909

Buchanan

636 6,865 846

Buena Vista

652 10,853 933

Butler

434 3,960 914

Calhoun

333 2,884 908

Carroll

978 11,344 847

Cass

562 5,902 853

Cedar

600 5,185 876

Cerro Gordo

1,670 23,560 961

Cherokee

449 4,935 879

Chickasaw

445 5,120 941

Clarke

252 4,648 867

Clay

747 8,588 917

Clayton

631 6,505 905

Clinton

1,485 19,901 917

Crawford

522 6,594 885

Dallas

3,251 50,371 1,273

Davis

250 2,168 918

Decatur

227 2,344 753

Delaware

628 6,791 935

Des Moines

1,402 20,081 937

Dickinson

934 11,671 781

Dubuque

3,623 58,406 1,010

Emmet

334 3,525 846

Fayette

694 7,006 826

Floyd

478 5,769 985

Franklin

381 3,925 941

Fremont

292 2,246 853

Greene

332 3,315 962

Grundy

387 4,386 968

Guthrie

380 3,167 926

Hamilton

482 5,720 902

Hancock

384 6,252 1,000

Hardin

666 6,696 886

Harrison

469 4,159 866

Henry

622 8,935 903

Howard

336 4,351 870

Humboldt

366 3,704 925

Ida

302 3,797 964

Iowa

683 9,162 928

Jackson

699 6,119 785

Jasper

990 10,415 845

Jefferson

839 7,381 992

Johnson

4,976 82,112 1,134

Jones

658 6,152 866

Keokuk

331 2,254 835

Kossuth

652 6,635 906

Lee

1,074 14,112 994

Linn

7,649 128,821 1,187

Louisa

282 3,847 886

Lucas

259 3,834 825

Lyon

540 4,671 796

Madison

560 4,260 819

Mahaska

652 8,018 941

Marion

1,058 19,226 1,068

Marshall

1,058 15,835 975

Mills

430 3,545 949

Mitchell

380 4,100 970

Monona

305 2,642 778

Monroe

245 3,644 1,140

Montgomery

395 4,172 885

Muscatine

1,251 22,385 1,129

O'Brien

617 6,546 836

Osceola

274 2,578 857

Page

489 6,517 889

Palo Alto

343 3,653 805

Plymouth

869 12,001 1,075

Pocahontas

284 3,082 924

Polk

19,983 307,183 1,244

Pottawattamie

2,702 39,252 967

Poweshiek

716 9,768 1,040

Ringgold

187 1,387 799

Sac

396 3,120 875

Scott

6,052 89,134 1,016

Shelby

447 5,616 918

Sioux

1,573 22,358 930

Story

2,993 46,326 1,142

Tama

455 5,420 858

Taylor

200 1,945 871

Union

461 5,897 872

Van Buren

221 1,944 827

Wapello

879 15,218 942

Warren

1,292 12,921 906

Washington

834 8,453 822

Wayne

181 2,028 919

Webster

1,192 17,740 1,015

Winnebago

399 4,190 855

Winneshiek

769 10,258 901

Woodbury

3,303 51,283 939

Worth

237 2,269 827

Wright

480 5,875 974

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 2022
State Establishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
June 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2021–22
Second quarter
2022
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2021–22
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,460.8 149,902.0 4.0 $1,294 -- 4.3 --

Alabama

147.8 2,007.0 2.1 1,069 37 6.2 16

Alaska

24.4 329.5 4.4 1,237 17 4.7 36

Arizona

199.8 2,962.1 3.3 1,220 21 5.8 22

Arkansas

98.5 1,240.4 2.8 997 49 2.4 47

California

1,706.1 17,915.3 5.6 1,572 4 -0.6 51

Colorado

242.3 2,838.5 4.1 1,361 9 6.2 16

Connecticut

137.6 1,654.7 3.1 1,458 6 3.5 42

Delaware

39.1 456.4 2.5 1,227 18 5.8 22

District of Columbia

48.2 747.6 3.2 2,139 1 2.0 48

Florida

858.7 9,126.7 5.0 1,186 22 6.5 10

Georgia

369.2 4,669.6 4.9 1,221 20 7.2 5

Hawaii

51.6 612.6 3.4 1,152 26 3.2 44

Idaho

83.2 824.2 2.7 1,009 48 8.5 1

Illinois

408.0 5,959.3 3.7 1,325 11 5.2 29

Indiana

184.6 3,087.8 2.5 1,083 35 6.9 8

Iowa

110.2 1,555.3 1.7 1,057 40 5.8 22

Kansas

93.8 1,381.2 1.5 1,039 44 4.6 38

Kentucky

140.9 1,886.9 1.8 1,070 36 7.1 7

Louisiana

149.9 1,837.0 1.2 1,067 38 6.5 10

Maine

61.6 637.6 1.9 1,086 34 8.0 3

Maryland

184.9 2,640.3 1.5 1,378 8 4.6 38

Massachusetts

288.5 3,654.3 4.3 1,637 2 2.8 46

Michigan

289.6 4,326.6 3.7 1,183 23 3.5 42

Minnesota

197.8 2,876.6 2.0 1,289 13 4.0 40

Mississippi

79.5 1,136.6 2.4 887 51 5.3 28

Missouri

231.6 2,852.0 3.3 1,106 32 5.1 32

Montana

59.4 504.8 2.7 1,028 45 7.4 4

Nebraska

79.9 988.5 1.2 1,060 39 6.3 13

Nevada

106.9 1,462.4 7.8 1,163 24 5.2 29

New Hampshire

62.4 671.9 2.0 1,349 10 0.4 50

New Jersey

321.7 4,221.9 5.8 1,440 7 3.8 41

New Mexico

69.6 822.4 3.6 1,040 43 5.5 25

New York

672.2 9,341.5 5.1 1,587 3 3.1 45

North Carolina

344.0 4,695.0 4.0 1,160 25 6.3 13

North Dakota

33.9 416.9 2.3 1,131 30 6.0 19

Ohio

322.7 5,404.1 2.6 1,127 31 5.4 26

Oklahoma

121.9 1,610.4 2.5 1,016 46 5.4 26

Oregon

176.7 1,956.6 2.7 1,253 15 4.8 35

Pennsylvania

387.9 5,901.3 3.9 1,252 16 4.9 34

Rhode Island

45.7 488.6 3.3 1,227 18 5.0 33

South Carolina

162.7 2,170.7 3.5 1,043 42 6.8 9

South Dakota

38.4 454.0 2.6 997 49 6.5 10

Tennessee

201.0 3,151.9 4.7 1,152 26 5.2 29

Texas

796.9 13,135.7 5.2 1,284 14 6.1 18

Utah

130.3 1,644.0 3.7 1,137 28 7.2 5

Vermont

29.9 297.7 1.2 1,135 29 8.1 2

Virginia

320.6 3,949.1 2.4 1,316 12 4.7 36

Washington

264.9 3,547.2 4.7 1,569 5 1.6 49

West Virginia

56.5 672.1 1.2 1,013 47 6.0 19

Wisconsin

197.9 2,897.0 1.6 1,097 33 5.9 21

Wyoming

29.5 280.6 1.6 1,048 41 6.3 13

Puerto Rico

49.2 910.1 4.8 597 (3) 5.3 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.6 33.7 -5.2 1,014 (3) 9.1 (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: Thursday, January 05, 2023