County Employment and Wages News Release — 2018-03-08

From September 2016 to September 2017, employment increased in 283 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 10.4 percent over the year, above the national job growth rate of 1.0 percent. Within Midland, the largest employment increase occurred in natural resources and mining, which gained 4,526 jobs over the year (24.4 percent). Collier, Fla., had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a loss of 5.2 percent. Within Collier, construction had the largest decrease in employment, with a loss of 1,879 jobs (-12.8 percent). The U.S. average weekly wage decreased 0.6 percent over the year, declining to $1,021 in the third quarter of 2017. This is the third decline since first quarter 2016, and one of only nine declines in the history of the series, which dates back to 1978.