BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

05/05/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/05/2022 09:42

Municipio Employment and Wages in Puerto Rico — Third Quarter 2021

News Release Information

22-767-NEW
Thursday, May 05, 2022

Employment in Puerto Rico's only large municipio, San Juan, increased 6.4 percent from September 2020 to September 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties and municipios are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli noted that in September 2021, San Juan's employment level of 237,400 accounted for 26.7 percent of total employment in the commonwealth. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 4.4 percent over the year, with 332 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Honolulu, HI, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 13.3 percent. Jefferson, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 3.2 percent.

The average weekly wage in San Juan was $689 in the third quarter of 2021, a 3.5-percent increase over the year. In the United States, the average weekly wage increased 6.7 percent to $1,251. Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 333 had over-the-year wage increases. San Mateo, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+27.2 percent). Union, NJ, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.2 percent).

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 77 municipios in Puerto Rico with employment below 75,000. All 77 municipios had wages below the U.S. average of $1,251. (See table 2.) Juncos, located on the eastern part of the island, had the highest average weekly wage at $893. Guaynabo, located in the northern part of the island, had an average weekly wage of $726. Twenty municipios had average weekly wages below $400, with the lowest wages reported in Las Marías ($320). See chart 1.)

Additional statistics and other information

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 or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

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. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

View Chart Data

The County Employment and Wages release for fourth quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for fourth quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau's web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons-some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states' continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Area Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage
September 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2020-21
Third quarter
2021
Percent change,
third quarter
2020-21

United States

11,021.4 144,863.9 4.4 $1,251 6.7

Puerto Rico

47.9 887.9 6.5 568 4.0

San Juan

11.3 237.4 6.4 689 3.5

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Area Establishments Employment September 2021 Average weekly wage

United States

11,021,414 144,863,915 $1,251

Puerto Rico

47,872 887,941 568

Adjuntas

227 1,755 355

Aguada

557 4,621 393

Aguadilla

928 18,575 642

Aguas Buenas

147 1,716 414

Aibonito

330 5,948 540

Añasco

268 5,316 559

Arecibo

1,118 21,044 516

Arroyo

105 2,531 516

Barceloneta

284 10,352 583

Barranquitas

334 2,998 432

Bayamón

2,941 53,841 534

Cabo Rojo

590 6,750 346

Caguas

2,276 45,176 516

Camuy

363 3,784 367

Canóvanas

359 5,334 474

Carolina

1,971 45,680 525

Cataño

313 10,336 629

Cayey

478 9,495 531

Ceiba

104 1,456 434

Ciales

149 1,641 406

Cidra

391 6,058 501

Coamo

296 3,548 412

Comerío

136 1,684 418

Corozal

326 3,675 389

Culebra

58 439 418

Dorado

623 9,995 558

Fajardo

515 9,646 524

Florida

59 1,044 386

Guánica

109 2,720 347

Guayama

466 10,254 519

Guayanilla

129 2,343 400

Guaynabo

2,525 52,181 726

Gurabo

386 7,583 566

Hatillo

579 9,275 409

Hormigueros

189 2,766 395

Humacao

766 16,069 541

Isabela

479 5,856 436

Jayuya

161 2,744 478

Juana Diaz

342 6,433 509

Juncos

270 8,074 893

Lajas

229 3,400 355

Lares

289 4,136 379

Las Marías

88 1,116 320

Las Piedras

288 6,749 579

Loíza

92 1,773 408

Luquillo

147 1,983 463

Manatí

627 13,812 612

Maricao

65 1,289 451

Maunabo

61 1,260 602

Mayagüez

1,542 29,487 499

Moca

422 4,900 392

Morovis

192 2,326 397

Naguabo

179 2,251 408

Naranjito

322 3,526 457

Orocovis

210 3,390 372

Patillas

108 1,513 451

Peñuelas

177 2,518 439

Ponce

2,224 46,212 484

Quebradillas

234 2,260 372

Rincón

219 2,086 391

Río Grande

363 5,187 512

Sabana Grande

207 3,347 379

Salinas

210 3,632 472

San German

379 7,524 428

San Juan

11,336 237,405 689

San Lorenzo

279 4,461 562

San Sebastián

582 5,513 340

Santa Isabel

229 5,739 455

Toa Alta

400 3,898 429

Toa Baja

723 13,024 483

Trujillo Alto

582 10,171 387

Utuado

279 3,533 415

Vega Alta

329 4,114 483

Vega Baja

499 8,019 515

Vieques

124 1,348 487

Villalba

154 3,342 590

Yabucoa

204 2,643 391

Yauco

427 6,302 423

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

State Establishments,
third quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage
September 2021
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2020-21
Third quarter
2021
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
third quarter
2020-21
National ranking
by percent change

United States

11,021.4 144,863.9 4.4 $1,251 -- 6.7 --

Alabama

139.8 1,955.3 2.6 1,030 36 5.3 37

Alaska

24.0 316.9 4.6 1,205 16 3.4 50

Arizona

184.5 2,926.3 4.6 1,167 19 7.0 13

Arkansas

97.4 1,212.9 2.9 963 47 7.8 6

California

1,679.6 17,208.7 6.6 1,576 4 7.7 8

Colorado

231.8 2,723.4 4.8 1,322 9 7.0 13

Connecticut

132.0 1,605.1 2.9 1,401 6 5.7 31

Delaware

35.9 439.7 2.1 1,198 18 4.4 45

District of Columbia

45.4 736.1 3.1 2,042 1 4.1 46

Florida

808.4 8,910.9 7.0 1,120 25 8.7 3

Georgia

343.9 4,491.4 4.9 1,158 20 6.8 17

Hawaii

49.2 592.8 16.6 1,150 22 3.3 51

Idaho

79.2 804.0 5.3 953 50 7.8 6

Illinois

398.4 5,751.2 3.3 1,274 11 6.3 22

Indiana

178.9 3,020.6 2.6 1,032 34 7.4 10

Iowa

106.8 1,509.6 2.2 1,015 39 4.9 43

Kansas

92.1 1,349.3 1.7 997 40 4.7 44

Kentucky

134.3 1,869.0 3.4 989 43 5.8 28

Louisiana

144.2 1,772.7 1.7 1,021 37 5.4 36

Maine

58.5 619.9 3.6 1,031 35 6.7 18

Maryland

178.1 2,604.6 3.9 1,314 10 3.5 49

Massachusetts

281.4 3,501.0 5.5 1,593 2 7.0 13

Michigan

271.3 4,181.4 3.6 1,154 21 5.3 37

Minnesota

186.9 2,780.5 2.7 1,249 13 6.1 24

Mississippi

77.3 1,122.2 2.6 859 51 6.3 22

Missouri

223.9 2,760.3 2.9 1,055 31 6.0 26

Montana

57.0 487.5 4.4 963 47 6.5 21

Nebraska

75.6 964.6 1.4 1,017 38 5.5 35

Nevada

96.0 1,389.5 10.8 1,135 23 8.3 5

New Hampshire

60.0 654.6 3.3 1,349 8 15.0 1

New Jersey

304.1 3,977.2 5.1 1,384 7 4.1 46

New Mexico

64.8 806.2 4.2 997 40 5.6 32

New York

671.2 8,922.4 4.4 1,534 5 6.1 24

North Carolina

318.4 4,516.4 4.5 1,112 26 7.1 11

North Dakota

33.0 407.2 2.2 1,076 30 5.1 40

Ohio

315.7 5,248.0 2.2 1,098 28 5.6 32

Oklahoma

116.4 1,576.6 1.8 966 45 5.6 32

Oregon

171.2 1,909.5 3.7 1,220 15 9.6 2

Pennsylvania

375.4 5,685.4 3.2 1,205 16 5.8 28

Rhode Island

43.2 474.1 4.8 1,131 24 3.6 48

South Carolina

152.9 2,086.0 2.8 988 44 6.9 16

South Dakota

37.0 435.6 3.1 965 46 5.1 40

Tennessee

187.7 3,044.1 4.2 1,111 27 8.7 3

Texas

770.0 12,613.1 5.6 1,227 14 6.7 18

Utah

123.1 1,594.7 5.0 1,087 29 7.1 11

Vermont

28.1 293.5 2.7 1,055 31 5.8 28

Virginia

299.2 3,845.3 2.9 1,264 12 5.3 37

Washington

266.6 3,415.2 4.4 1,578 3 6.6 20

West Virginia

53.6 664.2 2.7 960 49 5.0 42

Wisconsin

189.5 2,815.9 2.3 1,049 33 7.5 9

Wyoming

28.7 271.1 2.5 995 42 6.0 26

Puerto Rico

47.9 887.9 6.5 568 4.0

Virgin Islands

3.6 34.5 1.9 956 -5.4

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.