County Employment And Wages: Fourth Quarter 2004 — 2005-07-19

In December 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 8.9 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.7 percent. Williamson County, Texas, had the largest over-the- year gain in average weekly wages in the fourth quarter of 2004, with an increase of 17.8 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 5.7 percent over the same time span. Of the 317 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2003 employment, 150 had over-the-year percentage growth in jobs above the national average in December 2004, and 153 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national av- erage in 133 of the largest U.S.