County Employment and Wages News Release — 2017-12-05

From June 2016 to June 2017, employment increased in 318 of the 346 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Midland, Texas, had the largest percentage increase with a gain of 7.3 percent over the year, above the national job growth rate of 1.7 percent. Within Midland, the largest employment increase occurred in natural resources and mining, which gained 3,497 jobs over the year (19.6 percent). Lucas, Ohio, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a loss of 1.9 percent. Within Lucas, construction had the largest decrease in employment, with a loss of 1,534 jobs (-14.2 percent). The U.S. average weekly wage increased 3.2 percent over the year, growing to $1,020 in the second quarter of 2017. New Hanover, N.C., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages with a gain of 11.9 percent.