County Employment and Wages News Release — 2017-06-07

From December 2015 to December 2016, employment increased in 280 of the 344 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Williamson, Tenn., had the largest percentage increase with a gain of 5.1 percent over the year, above the national job growth rate of 1.2 percent. Within Williamson, the largest employment increase occurred in professional and business services, which gained 1,995 jobs over the year (6.0 percent). Lafayette, La., had the largest over-the- year percentage decrease in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., with a loss of 5.1 percent. Within Lafayette, natural resources and mining had the largest decrease in employment, with a loss of 2,397 jobs (-19.8 percent). The U.S. average weekly wage decreased 1.5 percent over the year, declining to $1,067 in the fourth quarter of 2016. This is one of only eight declines in the history of the series, which dates back to 1978.