County Employment And Wages: Second Quarter 2006 — 2007-01-11

In June 2006, Collin County, Texas, had the largest over-the-year percent- age 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. Collin County, a Dallas suburb, experienced an over- the-year employment gain of 8.2 percent, compared with national job growth of 2.0 percent. Orleans County (New Orleans), La., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the second quarter of 2006, with an increase of 28.0 percent. The high average weekly wage growth rate for Orleans County re- flected the disproportionate job losses in lower-paid industries due to Hurri- cane Katrina. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 4.4 percent over the same time span.