Employment rose in 9 of the 10 largest counties in Michigan from December 2022 to December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that Ingham County and Ottawa County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 2.3 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Michigan, December 2023

County	Percent change, December 2023
Ingham	2.3
Ottawa	1.9
Washtenaw	1.3
Wayne	1.1
Kent	0.8
Oakland	0.8
Saginaw	0.7
Genesee	0.3
Macomb	0.1
Kalamazoo	-0.2

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Among the 10 largest counties in Michigan, employment was highest in Oakland County (731,000) in December 2023. Within Oakland County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 10 largest Michigan counties accounted for 69.5 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 73 counties in Michigan with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in all 73 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Nine of the ten large Michigan counties reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Genesee County had the largest gain (+6.1 percent), followed by Macomb County (+4.7 percent) and Wayne County (+4.7 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Michigan’s other six large counties posting increases ranged from 3.8 percent to 2.1 percent. Wages in Kent County were unchanged over the year.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Michigan, fourth quarter 2023

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2023
Genesee	6.1
Macomb	4.7
Wayne	4.7
Kalamazoo	3.8
Washtenaw	3.6
Ingham	3.2
Ottawa	2.9
Oakland	2.4
Saginaw	2.1
Kent	0.0

Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Weekly wages in 2 of the 10 largest counties in Michigan were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Both of these counties ranked among the top 100 nationwide: Oakland ($1,526, 61^st) and Wayne ($1,460, 80^th).

Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Among the 73 smaller counties in Michigan—those with employment below 75,000—all reported an average weekly wage below the national average. Midland County ($1,373) reported the highest average weekly wage in the state, while Keweenaw County ($654) reported the state’s lowest average weekly wage.

When all 83 counties in Michigan were considered, 24 reported average weekly wages of less than $950, 15 registered wages from $950 to $999, 13 had wages from $1000 to $1,049, and 31 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

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