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News Release Information

22-1829-CHI
Wednesday, September 21, 2022

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

County Employment and Wages in Ohio — First Quarter 2022

Employment rose in the 14 largest counties in Ohio from March 2021 to March 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 Delaware County and Franklin County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 4.4 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)


National employment increased 5.0 percent over the year, with 349 of the 355 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Clark, NV, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 12.5 percent. Jefferson, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.8 percent.

Among the 14 largest counties in Ohio, employment was highest in Franklin County (751,300) in March 2022. Within Franklin County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 14 largest Ohio counties accounted for 65.6 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 355 largest counties made up 73 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 counties in Ohio with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 73 of the 74 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,374 in the first quarter of 2022. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All 14 large Ohio counties reported average weekly wage gains from the first quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022. (See chart 2.) Six counties had rates of wage gains that were above the national rate of 6.7 percent. Summit County had the largest gain (+9.4 percent), followed by Lucas County (+8.6 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Ohio’s other 12 large counties ranged from 8.2 percent to 4.2 percent.


Among the 355 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Peoria, IL, had the largest percentage wage increase (+25.8 percent). San Francisco, CA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-9.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in the 2 of the 14 largest counties in Ohio were above the national average of $1,374 in the first quarter of 2022: Hamilton ($1,465) and Delaware ($1,378). However, neither of these counties ranked among the top 50 nationwide.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the first quarter of 2022. New York, NY, had the highest average weekly wage at $4,064. Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 268 counties. At $736 a week, Cameron, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in Ohio’s smaller counties

Among the 74 smaller counties in Ohio—those with employment below 75,000—Union ($1,573) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Hocking County ($688) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 88 counties in Ohio were considered, 10 reported average weekly wages less than $800, 37 registered wages from $800 to $899, 20 had wages from $900 to $999, and 21 had average weekly wages of $1,000 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 second quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for second quarter 2022 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

Changes to QCEW with First Quarter 2022 Release

County Changes for the 2022 County Employment and Wages News Releases

Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2021 are included in this release and will be included in future 2022 releases. Nationally, twelve counties have been added to the publication tables, including Greene, OH. No counties were dropped from the publication tables.

Industry Changes to QCEW Data

Beginning with the full release of first quarter 2022 data on September 7, 2022, the QCEW program will use the 2022 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the basis for the publication of economic data by industry. For information on the use of the 2022 version of NAICS in QCEW, please see www.bls.gov/cew/classifications/industry/naics-2022.htm.


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 14 largest counties in Ohio, first quarter 2022
Area Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
First quarter
2022
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
first quarter
2021–22 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

11,299.0 147,648.4 5.0 -- $1,374 -- 6.7 --

Ohio

320.5 5,299.0 3.1 -- 1,179 24 7.5 29

Butler

8.5 152.4 2.5 276 1,139 190 8.2 104

Cuyahoga

38.2 693.0 2.8 254 1,368 89 8.1 108

Delaware

6.4 89.6 4.4 139 1,378 87 4.9 268

Franklin

37.3 751.3 3.7 195 1,330 96 6.1 218

Greene

3.9 75.3 1.0 337 1,207 155 4.2 292

Hamilton

26.1 502.1 3.0 237 1,465 62 6.9 174

Lake

6.5 91.0 2.2 294 997 305 5.4 246

Lorain

6.5 94.0 2.9 243 944 325 6.1 218

Lucas

10.6 194.2 1.1 333 1,133 195 8.6 87

Mahoning

6.0 92.3 2.5 276 884 342 7.9 119

Montgomery

12.6 244.4 2.1 298 1,074 240 6.4 207

Stark

9.0 151.9 0.8 342 941 328 5.6 238

Summit

15.2 250.6 0.9 341 1,178 175 9.4 58

Warren

5.9 95.8 2.6 267 1,217 147 4.9 268

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 Ohio, first quarter 2022
Area Establishments Employment March 2022 Average weekly wage (1)

United States (2)

11,299,030 147,648,359 $1,374

Ohio

320,454 5,298,986 1,179

Adams

668 6,230 841

Allen

2,545 48,608 1,001

Ashland

1,178 18,870 837

Ashtabula

2,158 28,902 825

Athens

1,322 20,767 861

Auglaize

1,079 20,664 917

Belmont

1,644 20,539 821

Brown

695 7,763 724

Butler

8,484 152,443 1,139

Carroll

544 5,697 810

Champaign

711 10,029 903

Clark

2,563 46,183 923

Clermont

4,404 58,789 1,048

Clinton

916 18,264 1,145

Columbiana

2,200 27,781 813

Coshocton

712 9,305 863

Crawford

926 12,152 839

Cuyahoga

38,237 692,999 1,368

Darke

1,244 18,037 877

Defiance

895 14,993 940

Delaware

6,399 89,643 1,378

Erie

2,018 33,349 921

Fairfield

3,266 43,116 860

Fayette

637 10,691 877

Franklin

37,326 751,295 1,330

Fulton

1,100 17,524 905

Gallia

726 10,811 810

Geauga

3,043 33,539 941

Greene

3,926 75,252 1,207

Guernsey

960 14,018 868

Hamilton

26,079 502,050 1,465

Hancock

1,884 44,064 1,111

Hardin

528 8,000 768

Harrison

338 3,371 898

Henry

670 10,008 894

Highland

811 10,688 741

Hocking

574 6,658 688

Holmes

1,499 20,626 868

Huron

1,348 20,474 885

Jackson

721 9,694 759

Jefferson

1,386 20,330 842

Knox

1,249 19,596 865

Lake

6,487 90,963 997

Lawrence

980 14,158 787

Licking

3,704 82,604 897

Logan

973 18,228 938

Lorain

6,539 94,024 944

Lucas

10,637 194,227 1,133

Madison

942 20,585 866

Mahoning

6,047 92,278 884

Marion

1,234 23,294 931

Medina

4,858 58,610 1,032

Meigs

371 3,404 715

Mercer

1,195 19,402 814

Miami

2,443 40,306 950

Monroe

366 2,793 800

Montgomery

12,648 244,422 1,074

Morgan

218 2,696 824

Morrow

540 5,022 763

Muskingum

1,902 33,504 894

Noble

278 2,916 845

Ottawa

1,182 12,325 1,022

Paulding

414 4,747 824

Perry

585 5,903 799

Pickaway

1,037 14,597 988

Pike

557 9,994 1,000

Portage

3,570 53,209 982

Preble

777 11,433 987

Putnam

839 12,052 887

Richland

2,847 47,957 863

Ross

1,455 28,533 962

Sandusky

1,456 24,674 901

Scioto

1,450 23,676 870

Seneca

1,168 18,431 866

Shelby

1,077 26,843 1,001

Stark

8,991 151,901 941

Summit

15,157 250,619 1,178

Trumbull

4,338 61,015 861

Tuscarawas

2,371 35,835 858

Union

1,480 32,612 1,573

Van Wert

637 11,143 861

Vinton

209 2,179 734

Warren

5,911 95,827 1,217

Washington

1,621 24,377 1,015

Wayne

2,861 46,200 965

Williams

903 16,413 899

Wood

3,237 70,386 1,041

Wyandot

561 9,716 901

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 2022
State Establishments,
first quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
March 2022
(thousands)
Percent change,
March
2021–22
First quarter
2022
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
first quarter
2021–22
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

11,299.0 147,648.4 5.0 $1,374 -- 6.7 --

Alabama

143.7 1,990.4 2.5 1,072 39 8.2 21

Alaska

24.2 303.9 2.8 1,178 25 4.9 45

Arizona

195.8 3,048.2 5.0 1,234 21 7.5 29

Arkansas

98.3 1,232.7 3.1 1,060 40 10.9 2

California

1,667.6 17,720.8 7.7 1,644 5 1.0 51

Colorado

238.0 2,767.9 5.1 1,455 9 8.8 11

Connecticut

135.7 1,618.6 4.3 1,716 4 9.2 6

Delaware

38.1 447.8 3.9 1,362 14 7.5 29

District of Columbia

46.9 749.1 5.8 2,221 1 2.6 49

Florida

844.0 9,249.2 6.1 1,222 23 10.8 3

Georgia

359.6 4,615.2 5.0 1,301 17 8.8 11

Hawaii

50.4 612.1 7.9 1,135 30 4.2 47

Idaho

83.6 806.4 4.7 982 49 8.5 18

Illinois

403.8 5,808.8 4.5 1,487 8 7.3 33

Indiana

183.0 3,071.1 3.7 1,127 32 9.8 5

Iowa

108.2 1,511.6 2.5 1,080 36 7.6 27

Kansas

93.1 1,369.8 2.5 1,073 38 9.0 10

Kentucky

137.5 1,911.5 4.0 1,038 44 7.6 27

Louisiana

147.6 1,820.6 1.3 1,058 42 8.6 16

Maine

60.4 604.1 2.8 1,103 35 10.3 4

Maryland

179.9 2,623.1 3.9 1,410 10 2.0 50

Massachusetts

286.6 3,516.0 5.3 1,827 3 5.9 43

Michigan

282.2 4,212.5 4.6 1,225 22 6.2 41

Minnesota

194.1 2,772.6 2.7 1,374 11 6.8 37

Mississippi

77.9 1,134.2 2.9 879 51 8.5 18

Missouri

227.1 2,788.2 3.0 1,128 31 7.0 34

Montana

57.5 479.9 3.1 991 48 8.3 20

Nebraska

78.7 965.4 1.5 1,079 37 9.2 6

Nevada

102.7 1,441.3 11.6 1,164 27 8.0 23

New Hampshire

61.1 659.9 4.3 1,361 15 7.8 25

New Jersey

317.9 4,085.1 7.2 1,606 6 4.6 46

New Mexico

68.0 817.4 5.1 1,018 45 6.5 40

New York

681.3 9,107.2 6.0 1,972 2 5.6 44

North Carolina

335.8 4,638.3 4.8 1,241 20 9.2 6

North Dakota

33.3 400.5 2.7 1,106 34 6.9 35

Ohio

320.5 5,299.0 3.1 1,179 24 7.5 29

Oklahoma

120.7 1,601.8 2.9 1,012 46 8.0 23

Oregon

175.1 1,921.9 4.0 1,259 18 7.4 32

Pennsylvania

384.0 5,778.2 4.3 1,309 16 6.9 35

Rhode Island

45.0 469.3 4.7 1,249 19 6.8 37

South Carolina

164.1 2,142.9 3.9 1,043 43 9.2 6

South Dakota

37.8 432.0 3.5 1,012 46 8.6 16

Tennessee

198.1 3,104.1 4.6 1,172 26 8.8 11

Texas

788.4 12,985.4 6.1 1,369 12 8.7 14

Utah

126.5 1,625.6 4.5 1,152 28 8.2 21

Vermont

29.3 295.8 3.9 1,107 33 7.7 26

Virginia

310.8 3,889.4 3.1 1,366 13 6.6 39

Washington

277.3 3,453.4 6.0 1,596 7 3.8 48

West Virginia

55.2 668.1 2.9 968 50 6.1 42

Wisconsin

193.9 2,816.5 2.9 1,137 29 8.7 14

Wyoming

28.9 263.6 2.6 1,059 41 11.2 1

Puerto Rico

48.7 917.1 6.8 579 (3) 2.8 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.5 34.8 -0.3 947 (3) -3.7 (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, September 21, 2022