County Employment and Wages in Oregon – Fourth Quarter 2023

Employment rose in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon 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 Chris Rosenlund noted that Marion County and Deschutes County had the largest over-the-year increases in employment at 2.9 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

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 7 largest counties in Oregon, employment was highest in Multnomah County (507,300) in December 2023. Within Multnomah County's private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 7 largest Oregon counties accounted for 75.4 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 29 counties in Oregon with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 28 of the 29 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

All six large Oregon counties with published data reported average weekly wage gains from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023. (See chart 2.) Over-the-year wage gains in these counties ranged from 1.9 percent in Multnomah County to 4.8 percent Deschutes County.

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).

Large county average weekly wages

Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon were above the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Washington County ($1,687) had the highest weekly wage in the state and ranked 29^th in the nation, followed by Multnomah County ($1,519, 63^rd).

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).

Average weekly wages in Oregon's smaller counties

Among the 29 smaller counties in Oregon-those with employment below 75,000-Crook County ($1,467) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Wheeler County ($751) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 36 counties in Oregon were considered, 5 reported average weekly wages of less than $949, 16 registered wages from $950 to $1,049, 7 had wages from $1,050 to $1,149, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,150 or higher. (See map 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 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.

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.

The County Employment and Wages release for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest counties in Oregon, fourth quarter 2023

Area	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment	Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2022-23 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)	Fourth quarter 2023 ($)	National ranking by level (3)	Percent change, fourth quarter 2022-23 (2)	National ranking by percent change (3)
United States (4)	12,090.1	154,848.1	1.5	--	1,435	--	3.6	--
Oregon	206.1	1,985.5	1.0	--	1,338	18	2.8	41
Clackamas	19.3	172.4	0.2	298	1,372	118	3.9	123
Deschutes	12.7	92.3	2.7	46	1,265	190	4.8	48
Jackson	9.3	90.7	1.0	213	1,090	319	2.8	241
Lane	15.0	156.8	0.5	268	1,119	306	3.1	217
Marion	13.9	168.9	2.9	37	1,106	312	(5)	-
Multnomah	45.9	507.3	0.4	281	1,519	63	1.9	306
Washington	25.4	308.6	-0.5	339	1,687	29	4.3	89
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications. (3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (5) Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Oregon, fourth quarter 2023

Area	Establishments	Employment December 2023	Average weekly wage ($) (1)
United States (2)	12,090,132	154,848,113	1,435
Oregon	206,149	1,985,457	1,338
Baker	802	5,591	935
Benton	3,510	38,887	1,317
Clackamas	19,294	172,353	1,372
Clatsop	2,114	18,880	963
Columbia	1,622	11,683	1,046
Coos	2,338	23,109	970
Crook	947	7,172	1,467
Curry	1,008	6,435	942
Deschutes	12,696	92,258	1,265
Douglas	3,918	38,637	1,028
Gilliam	163	857	1,123
Grant	361	2,477	998
Harney	384	2,569	965
Hood River	1,653	13,772	1,003
Jackson	9,333	90,694	1,090
Jefferson	756	6,937	1,042
Josephine	3,070	31,244	929
Klamath	2,641	23,291	994
Lake	395	2,402	956
Lane	15,031	156,792	1,119
Lincoln	2,314	18,065	957
Linn	4,356	48,615	1,085
Malheur	1,271	13,245	878
Marion	13,937	168,902	1,106
Morrow	447	6,625	1,365
Multnomah	45,946	507,328	1,519
Polk	2,644	21,265	967
Sherman	127	939	1,210
Tillamook	1,222	9,792	972
Umatilla	2,801	33,201	1,030
Union	1,143	10,367	969
Wallowa	518	2,698	987
Wasco	1,236	10,673	1,085
Washington	25,385	308,586	1,687
Wheeler	79	337	751
Yamhill	4,167	38,447	1,070
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, fourth quarter 2023

State	Establishments, fourth quarter (thousands)	Employment	Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023 (thousands)	Percent change, December 2022-23	Fourth quarter 2023 ($)	National ranking by level	Percent change, fourth quarter 2022-23	National ranking by percent change
United States (2)	12,090.1	154,848.1	1.5	1,435	--	3.6	--
Alabama	159.1	2,101.1	2.0	1,207	35	4.2	15
Alaska	25.2	311.6	2.4	1,372	16	5.5	2
Arizona	226.4	3,231.4	2.2	1,322	21	3.8	21
Arkansas	103.2	1,294.0	1.4	1,089	50	2.1	49
California	1,792.2	18,111.4	0.2	1,759	4	4.8	9
Colorado	263.2	2,930.1	2.5	1,516	9	3.0	38
Connecticut	151.0	1,690.0	1.3	1,632	6	2.4	46
Delaware	43.2	472.9	1.3	1,373	15	2.2	47
District of Columbia	52.6	759.9	0.7	2,385	1	4.1	16
Florida	904.4	9,870.1	2.5	1,328	20	3.4	32
Georgia	391.7	4,866.4	1.3	1,331	19	3.5	30
Hawaii	58.3	643.3	0.8	1,288	24	5.0	7
Idaho	96.3	854.9	3.5	1,137	46	1.9	50
Illinois	410.6	6,051.9	0.8	1,479	12	3.4	32
Indiana	191.4	3,187.1	0.9	1,171	41	3.6	26
Iowa	110.7	1,564.0	1.0	1,199	36	4.0	18
Kansas	100.1	1,431.8	1.1	1,167	42	3.7	25
Kentucky	154.0	2,004.4	1.8	1,146	45	4.1	16
Louisiana	154.2	1,905.4	0.8	1,193	37	5.3	5
Maine	64.8	636.8	1.4	1,209	34	3.8	21
Maryland	193.8	2,730.4	2.3	1,509	10	3.1	36
Massachusetts	292.9	3,655.4	0.8	1,805	2	0.7	51
Michigan	330.9	4,407.8	1.2	1,316	22	3.3	34
Minnesota	209.2	2,909.9	1.2	1,400	14	3.1	36
Mississippi	89.1	1,170.9	0.7	983	51	3.8	21
Missouri	253.9	2,906.3	1.6	1,222	33	4.3	14
Montana	68.2	510.0	1.8	1,178	40	5.4	3
Nebraska	76.8	1,018.5	2.0	1,187	39	2.9	40
Nevada	108.5	1,556.7	3.6	1,271	28	2.2	47
New Hampshire	67.1	689.2	1.4	1,527	8	2.8	41
New Jersey	333.8	4,293.1	1.3	1,574	7	2.6	44
New Mexico	68.6	868.3	2.3	1,165	43	4.9	8
New York	699.7	9,627.1	1.7	1,783	3	2.8	41
North Carolina	383.8	4,917.9	2.5	1,280	27	3.6	26
North Dakota	36.1	427.0	2.7	1,267	29	5.2	6
Ohio	333.9	5,514.5	1.1	1,245	31	3.6	26
Oklahoma	132.6	1,697.1	1.9	1,123	49	4.7	11
Oregon	206.1	1,985.5	1.0	1,338	18	2.8	41
Pennsylvania	392.4	6,023.4	1.2	1,360	17	3.0	38
Rhode Island	48.3	492.3	1.3	1,302	23	3.3	34
South Carolina	180.8	2,278.0	2.6	1,153	44	3.8	21
South Dakota	40.0	456.0	2.5	1,136	47	3.6	26
Tennessee	225.9	3,276.9	1.6	1,285	25	2.5	45
Texas	835.1	13,905.4	2.3	1,427	13	4.0	18
Utah	139.0	1,713.5	2.1	1,285	25	4.5	13
Vermont	32.6	310.3	1.5	1,250	30	3.5	30
Virginia	316.7	4,089.8	1.7	1,482	11	4.7	11
Washington	243.0	3,590.9	1.6	1,742	5	6.7	1
West Virginia	59.9	693.5	1.2	1,126	48	5.4	3
Wisconsin	208.0	2,936.6	1.0	1,233	32	3.9	20
Wyoming	30.8	277.4	1.5	1,191	38	4.8	9
Puerto Rico	54.4	975.7	0.0	688	(3)	3.3	(3)
Virgin Islands	3.8	36.2	1.6	1,024	(3)	0.7	(3)
Footnotes: (1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data. (2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. (3) Data not included in the national ranking.
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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