County Employment and Wages in New York – Second Quarter 2021

Employment rose in all 18 of the largest counties in New York from June 2020 to June 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2020.) Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli noted that Richmond County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 14.5 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

National employment increased 6.7 percent over the year, with 339 of the 343 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Atlantic, NJ, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 36.8 percent. Calcasieu, LA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment with a loss of 0.9 percent.

Among the 18 largest counties in New York, employment was highest in New York County (2,181,700). Together, the 18 largest New York counties accounted for 85.4 percent of total employment within the state. Nationwide, the 343 largest counties made up 72.2 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 44 counties in New York with employment levels below 75,000. Wage levels in 42 of the 44 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,241 in the second quarter of 2021. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Eleven New York large counties reported average weekly wage gains from the second quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of 2021. (See chart 2.) Onondaga (+5.9 percent) and Oneida Counties (+5.8 percent) had the largest gains. Over-the-year wage declines were reported in seven of New York's largest counties, with the largest decline posted by Westchester County (-7.1 percent).

Among the 343 largest counties in the United States, 302 had over-the-year wage increases. San Francisco, CA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+29.7 percent). Atlantic, NJ, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.4 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

New York County had the highest average weekly wage in the state at $2,555 and ranked fourth among the 343 largest U.S. counties. Westchester County ($1,591) ranked 21^st nationally. Five additional counties (Albany, Bronx, Dutchess, Nassau, and Suffolk) had average weekly wages that placed in the top 100 nationwide. Broome ($1,030) and Oneida ($1,003) reported the lowest average weekly wages among the state's large counties and ranked 231^st and 260^th nationwide, respectively.

Among the largest U.S. counties, 90 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2021. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage at $3,516. Average weekly wages were at or below the national average in the remaining 253 counties. At $728 a week, Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage.

Average weekly wages in New York's smaller counties

Forty-two of New York's 44 counties with employment below 75,000 had average weekly wages below the national average of $1,241. Steuben ($1,376) and Schenectady ($1,242) were the exceptions. (See table 2.) Hamilton and Yates Counties reported the lowest average weekly wages at $774 and $797, respectively.

When all 62 counties in New York were considered, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 17 registered wages from $900 to $999, 20 recorded wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 9 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 11 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See chart 3.)

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/.

The County Employment and Wages release for third quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The County Employment and Wages full data update for third quarter 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 9, 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; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Area	Establishments, second quarter (thousands)	Employment			Average weekly wage
		June 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2020-21	National ranking by percent change	Second quarter 2021	National ranking by level	Percent change, second quarter 2020-21	National ranking by percent change
United States	10,863.2	144,044.8	6.7	--	$1,241	--	4.5	--
New York	667.9	8,885.4	9.2	--	1,540	5	1.3	42
Albany	10.3	220.3	4.3	255	1,338	59	4.6	107
Bronx	19.1	304.6	5.6	184	1,229	96	2.1	227
Broome	4.2	79.2	4.7	233	1,030	231	2.0	230
Dutchess	8.4	105.9	8.0	78	1,259	79	4.7	101
Erie	24.5	439.9	8.3	67	1,115	170	0.8	281
Kings	66.1	770.6	12.1	15	1,054	213	-0.6	316
Monroe	18.7	364.6	6.1	162	1,136	158	1.0	273
Nassau	53.8	601.2	12.2	13	1,371	53	-1.1	320
New York	125.9	2,181.7	6.5	137	2,555	4	5.3	77
Oneida	5.2	98.6	4.1	267	1,003	260	5.8	56
Onondaga	12.6	233.7	5.7	174	1,161	138	5.9	50
Orange	10.8	143.0	10.3	31	1,081	190	-0.5	314
Queens	53.5	660.2	11.9	17	1,198	109	2.0	230
Richmond	10.0	126.0	14.5	8	1,160	139	-0.3	312
Rockland	11.2	126.9	13.0	11	1,149	146	-0.1	305
Saratoga	6.1	87.0	12.1	15	1,142	155	-2.4	333
Suffolk	53.4	646.8	11.3	23	1,304	67	0.4	294
Westchester	35.7	402.1	8.8	51	1,591	21	-7.1	339
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 June 2021	Average weekly wage
United States	10,863,217	144,044,799	$1,241
New York	667,864	8,885,368	1,540
Albany	10,283	220,325	1,338
Allegany	892	12,683	868
Bronx	19,147	304,564	1,229
Broome	4,237	79,220	1,030
Cattaraugus	1,759	27,155	934
Cayuga	1,662	24,728	1,030
Chautauqua	3,115	45,644	915
Chemung	1,875	32,813	1,072
Chenango	1,024	16,767	1,032
Clinton	1,903	32,058	1,007
Columbia	2,051	20,824	941
Cortland	1,083	16,474	924
Delaware	1,202	14,207	1,012
Dutchess	8,403	105,929	1,259
Erie	24,458	439,901	1,115
Essex	1,281	14,254	943
Franklin	1,104	17,513	1,080
Fulton	1,177	16,005	949
Genesee	1,442	23,065	956
Greene	1,303	14,232	1,035
Hamilton	240	1,890	774
Herkimer	1,230	16,487	889
Jefferson	2,842	40,234	955
Kings	66,077	770,579	1,054
Lewis	577	6,635	915
Livingston	1,427	19,140	943
Madison	1,573	20,087	954
Monroe	18,654	364,641	1,136
Montgomery	1,205	18,190	943
Nassau	53,830	601,188	1,371
New York	125,905	2,181,653	2,555
Niagara	4,799	68,340	937
Oneida	5,233	98,645	1,003
Onondaga	12,599	233,684	1,161
Ontario	3,189	50,946	1,070
Orange	10,774	142,995	1,081
Orleans	778	11,291	1,026
Oswego	2,304	31,152	1,077
Otsego	1,513	21,724	1,024
Putnam	3,111	25,906	1,218
Queens	53,452	660,184	1,198
Rensselaer	3,370	52,673	1,116
Richmond	10,000	125,992	1,160
Rockland	11,191	126,941	1,149
St. Lawrence	2,044	34,347	1,020
Saratoga	6,113	87,024	1,142
Schenectady	3,410	56,485	1,242
Schoharie	675	8,386	905
Schuyler	431	5,177	866
Seneca	752	11,090	1,047
Steuben	2,096	35,408	1,376
Suffolk	53,361	646,779	1,304
Sullivan	2,101	28,329	981
Tioga	867	12,757	1,133
Tompkins	2,638	45,118	1,229
Ulster	5,322	56,857	1,029
Warren	2,384	37,217	969
Washington	1,201	14,900	1,065
Wayne	2,051	28,086	962
Westchester	35,700	402,132	1,591
Wyoming	895	13,740	1,006
Yates	662	6,912	797
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, second quarter (thousands)	Employment		Average weekly wage
		June 2021 (thousands)	Percent change, June 2020-21	Second quarter 2021	National ranking by level	Percent change, second quarter 2020-21	National ranking by percent change
United States	10,863.2	144,044.8	6.7	$1,241	--	4.5	--
Alabama	137.8	1,952.0	4.4	1,010	35	4.8	15
Alaska	23.7	315.5	6.7	1,181	17	-1.2	51
Arizona	180.2	2,857.8	5.3	1,154	20	5.9	6
Arkansas	96.1	1,205.3	4.4	974	45	5.2	12
California	1,662.9	16,992.1	7.0	1,579	3	7.5	5
Colorado	228.9	2,723.9	7.1	1,283	10	4.4	19
Connecticut	130.1	1,604.1	7.9	1,411	6	0.6	47
Delaware	35.1	440.1	5.1	1,165	19	1.7	41
District of Columbia	44.0	724.6	3.3	2,096	1	5.4	8
Florida	782.5	8,654.0	6.7	1,113	24	7.7	3
Georgia	337.0	4,453.5	6.5	1,139	22	5.9	6
Hawaii	48.7	590.5	12.7	1,117	23	0.7	46
Idaho	76.4	801.8	7.3	930	50	5.3	10
Illinois	394.6	5,743.5	6.5	1,260	11	3.5	25
Indiana	178.2	3,011.8	5.2	1,013	34	5.4	8
Iowa	106.1	1,528.0	4.8	999	38	2.1	38
Kansas	90.5	1,356.0	4.0	995	41	2.7	30
Kentucky	132.4	1,851.2	5.6	999	38	2.9	28
Louisiana	142.7	1,806.6	5.4	1,005	36	2.0	39
Maine	57.0	623.0	8.7	1,005	36	2.4	33
Maryland	175.6	2,599.7	6.8	1,319	9	1.0	44
Massachusetts	277.4	3,497.0	10.1	1,591	2	1.1	43
Michigan	270.2	4,175.6	8.4	1,143	21	2.5	32
Minnesota	192.8	2,814.5	6.4	1,240	13	3.3	26
Mississippi	75.7	1,107.1	4.1	843	51	3.8	22
Missouri	221.6	2,759.3	5.3	1,052	32	3.6	23
Montana	55.1	490.7	7.0	959	47	4.5	18
Nebraska	74.4	976.6	4.8	997	40	3.9	21
Nevada	93.9	1,353.9	14.0	1,106	25	5.3	10
New Hampshire	58.5	657.4	8.7	1,345	8	10.6	1
New Jersey	300.4	3,993.8	12.0	1,387	7	0.8	45
New Mexico	63.0	790.6	4.3	987	42	2.9	28
New York	667.9	8,885.4	9.2	1,540	5	1.3	42
North Carolina	311.1	4,511.3	7.2	1,092	27	5.1	14
North Dakota	32.6	407.4	4.3	1,067	29	0.6	47
Ohio	312.4	5,266.7	4.3	1,068	28	3.6	23
Oklahoma	114.6	1,568.7	3.1	963	46	2.4	33
Oregon	169.2	1,899.6	5.6	1,196	15	4.8	15
Pennsylvania	370.9	5,674.7	6.9	1,193	16	2.0	39
Rhode Island	42.1	472.2	10.0	1,168	18	-0.3	50
South Carolina	150.1	2,091.9	4.9	977	44	5.2	12
South Dakota	36.3	442.3	6.4	936	49	2.6	31
Tennessee	182.3	3,012.4	5.9	1,094	26	7.6	4
Texas	758.0	12,466.7	5.7	1,210	14	4.7	17
Utah	119.9	1,586.0	7.6	1,060	30	4.2	20
Vermont	27.8	292.4	7.5	1,053	31	-0.2	49
Virginia	293.6	3,854.3	6.1	1,257	12	3.2	27
Washington	263.6	3,376.7	5.7	1,547	4	8.3	2
West Virginia	52.7	663.8	4.8	955	48	2.2	37
Wisconsin	186.5	2,845.7	5.7	1,037	33	2.3	35
Wyoming	28.2	275.1	5.6	987	42	2.3	35
Puerto Rico	47.6	867.2	8.6	567		2.0
Virgin Islands	3.5	35.7	0.0	923		-8.4
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

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