County Employment and Wages News Release — 2018-08-22

From March 2017 to March 2018, employment increased in 314 of the 349 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Midland, Texas, had the largest percentage increase with a gain of 12.6 percent over the year, above the national job growth rate of 1.6 percent. Within Midland, the largest employment increase occurred in natural resources and mining, which gained 5,728 jobs over the year (26.5 percent). Kanawha, W.Va., had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a loss of 1.4 percent. Within Kanawha, the largest employment decrease occurred in state government, which lost 390 jobs (-3.4 percent) over the year. The U.S. average weekly wage increased 3.7 percent over the year, growing to $1,152 in the first quarter of 2018. Peoria, Ill., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages, with a gain of 23.8 percent.