County Employment And Wages: Second Quarter 2005 — 2006-01-11

In June 2005, Pasco County, Fla., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Pasco County (north of Tampa) experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 9.5 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.7 percent. Webb County, Texas (which includes Laredo) had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the second quarter of 2005, with an increase of 11.3 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 3.9 percent over the same time span. Of the 322 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2004 annual average employment, 131 had over-the-year percentage growth in employment above the national average in June 2005, and 176 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 128 of the largest U.S.