County Employment And Wages: Second Quarter 2004 — 2005-01-11

In June 2004, Rutherford County, Tenn., 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. Rutherford County experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 8.5 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.2 percent. Suffolk County, Mass., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the second quarter of 2004, with an increase of 11.8 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 3.1 percent over the same time span. Of the 317 largest counties in the United States, 155 had over-the-year percentage growth in employment above the national average in June 2004, and 146 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 139 of the largest U.S. counties, while the percent change in average weekly wages was below the national average in 163 counties.