County Employment And Wages: First Quarter 2004 — 2004-10-26

In March 2004, Prince William County, Va., 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. Prince William County ex- perienced an over-the-year employment gain of 8.0 percent, compared with national job growth of 0.8 percent. New York County, N.Y., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2004, with an increase of 13.6 percent. The U.S. average weekly wage increased by 3.8 percent over the same time span. Of the 317 largest counties in the United States, 161 had over-the-year percentage growth in employment above the national average in March 2004, and 144 experienced changes below the national average. Average weekly wages grew faster than the national average in 103 of the largest U.S.