County Employment And Wages: First Quarter 2005 — 2005-10-20

In March 2005, Clark County, Nev., 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. Clark County experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 7.6 percent, compared with national job growth of 1.7 percent. Collier County, Fla., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2005, with an increase of 10.7 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 2.2 percent over the same time span. Of the 322 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2004 annual average employment, 118 had over-the-year percentage growth in em- ployment above the national average in March 2005, and 186 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 130 of the largest U.S.