Third Quarter — 2026-03-10

From September 2024 to September 2025, employment increased in 167 of the 372 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In September 2025, national employment increased to 155.8 million, a 0.1-percent increase over the year, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Boone, KY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 3.8 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for September 2025, and average weekly wage data are presented for third quarter 2025. Among the 372 largest counties, 358 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the third quarter of 2025, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,459, a 4.7-percent increase over the year. San Mateo, CA, had the largest third quarter over-the-year wage gain at 31.7 percent. (See table 1.) Boone, KY, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+3.8 percent).