Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:   (202) 606-6567     USDL 99-256

                                            For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 606-5902     Thursday, September 16, 1999

        EMPLOYMENT AND AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY FOR LARGE COUNTIES, 1997


   Of the 296 largest counties in the United States, 130 had rates of
employment growth above the national average of 2.6 percent in 1997, while
only 8 experienced declines in employment, according to data released by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  The southern
and western states dominated the fastest-growing counties, containing the 10
fastest-growing counties and 19 of the top 20.
   
   Employment and annual pay data by county are compiled from reports
submitted by employers subject to state and federal unemployment insurance
(UI) laws, covering 121.1 million full- and part-time workers.  Average
annual pay is computed by dividing total annual payrolls of employees
covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees.
The attached tables and charts contain data for the nation and for the 296
counties with employment of 75,000 or more.  (Some areas defined as counties
in this release are not officially designated as counties.  In addition, data
for San Juan, Puerto Rico, are published for the first time. See Technical
Note.)
   
Employment
   
   The 296 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees represented
69.5 percent of total U.S. covered employment in 1997.  (San Juan, P.R., is
not included in the grouping of U.S. counties.)  Snohomish County, Wash.,
had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (7.5 percent),
followed by the counties of Placer, Calif. (7.4 percent), Davis, Utah
(7.3 percent), Collin, Tex. (7.1 percent), and San Luis Obispo, Calif.
(6.8 percent).  (See table 1 and chart 1.)  The largest absolute gains in
employment were recorded in the counties of Dallas, Tex. (79,740), Harris,
Tex. (76,221), Los Angeles, Calif. (72,400), Maricopa, Ariz. (69,136), and
New York, N.Y. (58,361).
   
   Employment declined in eight counties from 1996 to 1997.  The largest
percentage declines in employment were in the District of Columbia and
St. Louis City, Mo. (both -2.3 percent), followed by the counties of Genesee,
Mich. (-1.6 percent), Trumbull, Ohio (-0.6 percent), and Honolulu, Hawaii
(-0.4 percent).  The largest absolute declines in employment occurred in
the District of Columbia (-14,258), St. Louis City, Mo.  (-5,999), Genesee
County, Mich. (-2,851), Honolulu County, Hawaii (-1,648), and Philadelphia
County, Pa. (-1,032).  (See table 2 and chart 2.)
   
Average Annual Pay
   
   Average annual pay in 1997 was higher than the national average of
$30,336 in 113 of the largest 296 counties.  New York County, N.Y.,
comprised entirely of the borough of Manhattan, had the highest level of
average annual pay at $58,791, followed by the counties of Fairfield, Conn.
($49,867), Santa Clara, Calif. ($48,702), the District of Columbia
($46,775), and Arlington, Va. ($46,145).  There were 184 counties with
average annual pay below the national average.  The lowest level of average
annual pay was reported in Horry County, S.C. ($19,527), followed by the
counties of Hidalgo, Tex. ($19,779), Cameron, Tex. ($20,041), Yakima, Wash.
($20,716), and Tulare, Calif. ($20,770).  (See table 2.)

                                  - 2 -   

   Fairfield County, Conn., led the growth in average annual pay with an
increase of 9.3 percent from 1996 to 1997.  Santa Clara County, Calif.,
was second at 8.7 percent, followed by the counties of Travis, Tex., and
King, Wash. (both 8.6 percent), and Durham, N.C., and Racine, Wis.
(both 8.5 percent).  King County, N.Y., had the slowest rate of positive
growth (0.1 percent), followed by the counties of Bell, Tex. (0.2 percent),
Orange, N.Y. (0.9 percent), and Harrison, Miss., and Genesee, Mich.
(both 1.0 percent).  None of the largest 296 counties experienced a decline
in average annual pay in 1997. (Four counties were not included in the over-
the-year comparisons due to significant changes in data collection.  See
Technical Note.)
Technical Note
   
   These data are the product of a federal-state cooperative program known
as Covered Employment and Wages, or the ES-202 program.  The data are
derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by
unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Employment
Security Agencies (SESAs).  The summaries are a by-product of the
administration of state unemployment insurance programs that require most
employers to pay quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of
workers covered by UI.  Effective with third-quarter 1997 processing,
employment and wages totals were generated using new systems in each of
the states and at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for San Juan, Puerto
Rico, are included in the tables for the first time.

Coverage

   Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws and for
federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for
Federal Employees (UCFE) program are compiled from quarterly contribution
reports submitted to the SESAs by employers.  In addition to the quarterly
contribution report, employers who operate multiple establishments within
a state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report,"
which provides detailed information on the location and industry of each of
their establishments.  Average annual employment and pay data included in
this release are derived from establishment level summaries of nearly 7.5
million employer reports of employment and wages submitted by states to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  These reports are based on place of
employment rather than place of residence.
   
   UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from state to
state.  In 1997, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 121.1 million
jobs.  The estimated 115.8 million workers in these jobs (after adjustment
for multiple jobholders) represented 97.4 percent of wage and salary
civilian employment.  Multiple jobholder estimates are produced by the
Current Population Survey (CPS).  Covered workers received $3.673 trillion
in pay, representing 94.4 percent of the wage and salary component
of personal income and 45.3 percent of the gross domestic product.
   
   Major exclusions from UI coverage during 1997 included most agricultural
workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials
in most states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most
student workers at schools, and employees of certain small nonprofit
organizations.
   
Concepts and methodology
   
   Average annual pay was computed by dividing total annual pay of employees
covered by UI programs by the average monthly number of these employees.
Included in the annual payroll data are bonuses, the cash value of meals and
lodging when supplied, tips and other gratuities, and, in some states,
employer contributions to certain deferred compensation plans such as 401(k)
plans and stock options.  Monthly employment is based on the number of workers
who worked during or received pay for the pay period including the 12th day of
the month.  With few exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported,
including production and sales workers, corporation officials, executives,
supervisory personnel, and clerical workers.  Workers on paid vacation and
part-time workers also are included. Percent changes in average annual pay
were computed using final 1996 data as the base.  These final 1996 data may
differ from the preliminary 1996 data previously published.

                                  - 2 -   

   Average annual pay is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time
workers as well as the number of individuals in high-paying and low-paying
occupations.  When comparing average annual pay levels between counties,
these factors should be taken into consideration.  Annual pay data only
approximate annual earnings because an individual may not be employed by
the same employer all year or may work for more than one employer.  Also,
year-to-year changes in average annual pay can result from a change in the
proportion of employment in high- and low-wage jobs, as well as from
changes in the level of average annual pay.
   
   In order to insure the highest possible quality of data, SESAs verify
with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and
ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes
in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification process
are introduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year.
Changes resulting from improved employer reporting also are introduced in the
first quarter.  For these reasons, some data, especially at more detailed
geographic levels, may not be strictly comparable with earlier years. In 1997,
effective with first-quarter data, improved Department of Defense civilian
employment and wages were centrally collected from a new data source.
   
   The 1996 data have been adjusted for code changes in order to be comparable
with 1997 data.  Some code changes were too extensive to allow comparisons
for ranking.  These counties appear with totals in employment and average
annual pay and undisclosed rankings.
   
   County definitions are assigned according to Federal Information
Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) as issued by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, after approval by the Secretary of
Commerce pursuant to Section 5131 of the Information Technology Management
Reform Act of 1996 and the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 104-106.
Data shown as counties include areas designated as independent cities in some
jurisdictions and, in Alaska, those designated as census areas where counties
have not been created.  County data also are presented for the New England
states and New Jersey for comparative purposes even though townships are the
more common designation used in those states.  The regions referred to in this
release are defined as census regions.
   
Additional statistics and other information
   
   Average annual employment and pay data by state and county are available
upon request from the Division of Occupational and Administrative Statistics,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212,
telephone 202-606-6567 (e-mail: 202_info@bls.gov). The comprehensive bulletin,
Employment and Wages, features information by detailed industry on establish-
ments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states.  Employment and
Wages Annual Averages, 1997, which was issued in January 1999, is available
for sale from the BLS Publication Sales Center, P.O. Box 2145, Chicago,
Illinois 60690.  News releases providing 1997 average annual pay data by
state and industry and by metropolitan area also are available from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-606-STAT;  TDD phone:
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-326-2577.
    Table 1.  Employment and average annual pay for 1997 and 1996-97 percent changes for all
    covered workers 1/ in the 297 largest counties

                                              Employment                            Average annual pay
                                             
    County 2/                       1997     Percent Change,   Ranked by          1997      Percent change,
                                             1996-97 3/        percent change,              1996-97 3/
                                                               1996-97 4/
                                                               
    United States 5/           121,082,571       2.6             -               $30,336       4.8
    Jefferson, Ala                 373,013       1.8           206                30,326       3.8
    Madison, Ala                   145,790       2.3           160                32,255       3.8
    Mobile, Ala                    168,881       2.5           136                26,466       3.7
    Montgomery, Ala                128,506       1.8           201                25,904       3.3
    Anchorage, Alaska              121,917       2.5           147                34,788       3.8
    Maricopa, Ariz               1,356,225       5.4            24                29,405       5.5
    Pima, Ariz                     296,945       2.2           169                25,491       3.2
    Pulaski, Ariz                  238,100       1.9           193                27,480       4.1
    Alameda, Calif                 633,790       2.4           148                36,580       6.1
    Contra Costa, Calif            307,601       3.7            74                35,959       4.7
    Fresno, Calif                  307,691      -0.0           288                22,875       4.3
    Kern, Calif                    227,079       0.9           260                25,398       4.5
    Los Angeles, Calif           3,887,834       1.9           192                34,846       4.1
    Marin, Calif                   104,282       3.2           100                34,860       4.4
    Monterey, Calif                150,752       2.8           124                26,103       5.0
    Orange, Calif                1,234,639       4.2            59                33,767       4.9
    Placer, Calif                   87,617       7.4             2                27,235       5.0
    Riverside, Calif               390,651       4.9            36                25,352       3.9
    Sacramento, Calif              518,744       3.2            97                32,162       4.9
    San Bernardino, Calif          459,540       2.8           125                26,894       3.4
    San Diego, Calif             1,061,622       4.4            51                30,364       5.3
    San Francisco, Calif           558,733       3.0           107                44,144       6.3
    San Joaquin, Calif             183,091       2.7           131                26,101       5.4
    San Luis Obispo, Calif          86,491       6.8             5                24,771       3.3
    San Mateo, Calif               330,445       4.5            50                42,380       7.1
    Santa Barbara, Calif           165,158       1.7           213                27,738       5.7
    Santa Clara, Calif             932,264       5.1            27                48,702       8.7
    Santa Cruz, Calif               99,618       2.5           145                27,188       4.2
    Solano, Calif                  103,680       2.6           135                27,031       5.2
    Sonoma, Calif                  171,530       4.9            39                28,724       6.6
    Stanislaus, Calif              147,624       4.8            43                24,908       4.9
    Tulare, Calif                  123,292       1.2           243                20,770       5.1
    Ventura, Calif                 257,542       0.4           279                30,454       7.7
    Yolo, Calif                     76,984       0.6           273                30,739       5.7
    Adams, Colo                    124,453       1.9           189                28,609       5.2
    Arapahoe, Colo                 250,156       5.8            16                35,322       6.0
    Boulder, Colo                  152,802       4.9            34                33,198       7.2
    Denver, Colo                   431,111       3.5            85                35,025       6.0
    El Paso, Colo                  212,766       4.5            48                27,296       5.9
    Jefferson, Colo                197,483       3.5            83                31,766       4.7
    Larimer, Colo                  104,932       3.4            86                27,413       4.8
    Fairfield, Conn                412,441       2.4           151                49,867       9.3
    Hartford, Conn                 485,815       1.5           225                37,545       5.4
    New Haven, Conn                355,623       2.3           164                33,923       4.7
    New London, Conn               119,684       2.0           185                33,043       3.3
    New Castle, Del                266,745       3.8            72                35,430       5.0
    District Of Columbia, DC       595,511      -2.3           296                46,775       5.2
    Alachua, Fla                   109,124       1.7           212                23,505       5.2
    Brevard, Fla                   170,876       2.8           118                28,499       4.1
    Broward, Fla                   602,173       1.7           209                28,401       3.1

    Collier, Fla                    87,467       4.2            60               $25,500       7.5
    Dade, Fla                      937,525       1.6           216                29,030       2.3
    Duval, Fla                     412,991       4.0            67                28,373       3.9
    Escambia, Fla                  119,025       0.7           267                24,462       3.0
    Hillsborough, Fla              531,021       4.7            46                27,464       4.6
    Lee, Fla                       147,779       2.3           165                24,112       3.7
    Leon, Fla                      135,518       5.2            25                25,608       3.4
    Manatee, Fla                   114,920       4.8            44                21,553       2.9
    Marion, Fla                     77,558       4.1            64                22,473       3.7
    Orange, Fla                    539,275       4.9            33                27,317       4.5
    Palm Beach, Fla                433,714       3.5            84                29,821       2.6
    Pinellas, Fla                  395,660       3.3            92                27,198       5.8
    Polk, Fla                      171,721       1.3           240                25,019       3.8
    Sarasota, Fla                  124,994       6.0            14                25,276       6.0
    Seminole, Fla                  122,222       6.3            10                26,345       4.9
    Volusia, Fla                   135,619       0.2           284                22,078       3.9
    Bibb, Ga                        89,226       2.5           140                26,437       2.9
    Chatham, Ga                    118,197       1.9           190                26,187       2.9
    Clayton, Ga                    106,485       2.4           153                31,755       4.2
    Cobb, Ga                       266,920       3.5            80                32,079       4.8
    Dekalb, Ga                     305,896       1.1           249                34,205       7.6
    Fulton, Ga                     696,742       2.5           141                37,843       7.2
    Gwinnett, Ga                   235,402       5.5            21                32,316       5.8
    Muscogee, Ga                    95,766        6/            6/                24,766        6/
    Richmond, Ga                   103,122       2.2           173                25,611       4.0
    Honolulu, Hawaii               400,672      -0.4           292                29,511       4.1
    Ada, Idaho                     151,201       4.3            53                28,420       2.8
    Champaign, Ill                  83,320       1.1           250                25,826       3.4
    Cook, Ill                    2,631,765       1.5           224                36,795       6.1
    Du Page, Ill                   533,689       3.6            76                36,507       5.8
    Kane, Ill                      164,417       2.3           163                29,644       4.1
    Lake, Ill                      274,267       2.9           111                36,469       5.5
    McHenry, Ill                    78,445       2.0           184                28,175       5.8
    Madison, Ill                    92,474       0.3           283                26,323       2.6
    Peoria, Ill                    102,301       1.4           233                27,694       5.2
    Rock Island, Ill                76,850       2.8           116                32,293        6/
    St. Clair, Ill                  86,762       2.0           186                24,411       3.3
    Sangamon, Ill                  139,155       1.7           208                31,355       5.0
    Will, Ill                      120,281       1.9           197                29,273       3.2
    Winnebago, Ill                 141,523       0.9           258                29,073       4.7
    Allen, Ind                     184,331       2.5           144                28,880       3.7
    Elkhart, Ind                   113,055       1.3           237                27,208       3.3
    Lake, Ind                      201,121       2.5           139                28,986       2.3
    Marion, Ind                    572,615       2.2           167                31,992       5.3
    St. Joseph, Ind                127,195       2.3           157                26,572       3.6
    Vanderburgh, Ind               105,576       0.7           269                26,241       5.7
    Linn, Iowa                     110,530       2.5           143                29,076       5.6
    Polk, Iowa                     247,541       1.0           257                29,719       6.2
    Scott, Iowa                     84,074       2.8           117                26,403       4.3
    Johnson, Kan                   250,161       6.1            12                30,510       5.3

    Sedgwick, Kan                  242,373       5.1            28               $30,111       5.6
    Shawnee, Kan                    96,065       0.4           278                26,131       2.7
    Wyandotte, Kan                  78,608       1.5           229                31,033       2.8
    Fayette, Ky                    161,675       2.2           174                27,103       4.5
    Jefferson, Ky                  418,427       2.4           155                28,755       3.5
    Caddo, La                      117,146       0.7           270                26,019       3.2
    Calcasieu, La                   81,981       0.6           274                27,067       3.9
    East Baton Rouge, La           223,147       1.7           211                26,929       3.6
    Jefferson, La                  209,834       2.3           161                25,352       5.2
    Lafayette, La                  110,133       6.7             7                28,207       7.4
    Orleans, La                    262,034       0.5           275                29,444       5.9
    Cumberland, Maine              155,090       4.3            57                27,541       4.4
    Anne Arundel, Md               173,370       2.8           121                30,591       4.8
    Baltimore, Md                  340,186       2.1           180                30,410       3.5
    Howard, Md                     108,082       5.6            19                32,987       5.2
    Montgomery, Md                 399,939       2.7           128                37,686       4.7
    Prince George's, Md            288,996       1.9           195                32,644       5.9
    Baltimore City, Md             382,211       0.8           264                33,787       4.7
    Barnstable, Mass                79,917       3.3            89                25,132       4.1
    Bristol, Mass                  207,601       1.4           235                27,067       4.1
    Essex, Mass                    284,658       1.3           242                32,364       5.5
    Hampden, Mass                  192,917       2.2           171                28,700       3.7
    Middlesex, Mass                783,789       3.9            69                39,957       6.1
    Norfolk, Mass                  303,729       1.7           207                35,428       4.4
    Plymouth, Mass                 158,496       3.8            70                29,250       4.3
    Suffolk, Mass                  562,802       1.9           198                44,415       5.2
    Worcester, Mass                302,914       2.6           134                31,522       5.0
    Genesee, Mich                  174,895      -1.6           294                33,640       1.0
    Ingham, Mich                   173,857       1.8           203                31,888       6.0
    Kalamazoo, Mich                119,519       0.1           285                30,066       1.9
    Kent, Mich                     327,849       3.5            79                30,400       4.0
    Macomb, Mich                   329,925       0.4           280                36,806       5.4
    Oakland, Mich                  709,824       2.9           114                38,828       4.9
    Ottawa, Mich                   109,095       3.3            94                28,955       3.9
    Saginaw, Mich                   95,154       1.1           247                31,557       3.3
    Washtenaw, Mich                182,484       2.1           177                34,546       6.0
    Wayne, Mich                    849,248       0.6           271                37,026       2.4
    Anoka, Minn                     96,766       2.3           166                29,699       5.9
    Dakota, Minn                   136,866       2.3           158                29,443       3.2
    Hennepin, Minn                 822,466       2.3           159                36,547       6.2
    Ramsey, Minn                   316,884       1.3           241                33,531       3.1
    St. Louis, Minn                 90,747       2.1           181                25,352       2.8
    Harrison, Miss                  82,438       4.4            52                21,814       1.0
    Hinds, Miss                    140,955       2.2           168                27,253       4.9
    Clay, Mo                        80,459       2.6           132                27,771       2.4
    Greene, Mo                     133,622       3.4            88                24,274       3.5
    Jackson, Mo                    388,971       3.4            87                30,886       2.9
    St. Charles, Mo                 86,410       4.8            42                25,954       1.7
    St. Louis, Mo                  620,247       2.9           113                33,370       5.9
    St. Louis City, Mo             255,925      -2.3           295                34,752       6.1

    Douglas, Neb                   306,724       1.8           202               $28,537       6.4
    Lancaster, Neb                 135,653       2.1           179                25,182       4.8
    Clark, Nev                     585,623       6.7             8                28,581       3.1
    Washoe, Nev                    174,853       3.1           104                28,451       2.8
    Hillsborough, N.H              179,066       2.1           176                32,426       5.0
    Rockingham, N.H                115,110       4.2            62                29,674       7.7
    Atlantic, N.J                  137,605       1.3           238                29,087       1.3
    Bergen, N.J.                   434,340       2.0           183                40,143       4.7
    Burlington, N.J.               166,623       3.2            96                32,943       3.6
    Camden, N.J.                   197,444       1.5           227                31,850       3.2
    Essex, N.J.                    352,413       0.8           263                39,430       2.7
    Gloucester, N.J.                81,635       2.4           152                29,232       4.0
    Hudson, N.J.                   226,400       0.3           281                38,455       4.4
    Mercer, N.J.                   197,019       1.5           230                39,835       6.0
    Middlesex, N.J.                374,200       2.1           182                40,157       4.3
    Monmouth, N.J.                 220,599       2.9           112                34,161       6.1
    Morris, N.J.                   251,545       2.4           149                44,872       4.9
    Ocean, N.J.                    123,013       0.9           259                26,745       3.1
    Passaic, N.J.                  174,142       1.0           253                34,434       3.7
    Somerset, N.J.                 162,339       5.4            23                45,937       7.4
    Union, N.J.                    226,321       1.4           234                39,784       4.5
    Bernalillo, N.M                294,708       1.4           231                26,974       4.4
    Albany, N.Y.                   221,312       0.0           287                31,311       4.3
    Bronx, N.Y.                    204,857      -0.2           290                30,128       1.8
    Broome, N.Y.                    95,586       1.6           218                27,172       2.7
    Dutchess, N.Y.                 102,930       1.0           251                31,104       1.8
    Erie, N.Y.                     449,287       0.7           268                28,339       2.6
    Kings, N.Y.                    412,874       0.6           272                27,853       0.1
    Monroe, N.Y.                   390,812       0.7           265                33,541       3.7
    Nassau, N.Y.                   569,998       1.6           219                35,186       4.4
    New York, N.Y.               2,195,454       2.7           127                58,791       6.3
    Niagara, N.Y.                   78,864       0.9           261                28,491       3.5
    Oneida, N.Y.                   104,529       0.5           277                25,167       4.5
    Onondaga, N.Y.                 244,765       0.3           282                29,518       4.0
    Orange, N.Y.                   110,191       1.0           254                26,275       0.9
    Queens, N.Y.                   453,665       1.2           245                31,412       2.5
    Richmond, N.Y.                  80,633       2.8           123                28,223       2.2
    Rockland, N.Y.                  98,015       1.8           199                33,662       2.4
    Suffolk, N.Y.                  521,913       1.6           220                33,418       4.5
    Westchester, N.Y.              379,896       1.3           239                39,832       4.2
    Buncombe, N.C                  102,539       3.7            75                24,781       3.8
    Catawba, N.C                    94,478       2.1           175                24,869       4.7
    Cumberland, N.C                101,663       3.9            68                23,574       4.7
    Durham, N.C                    153,103       3.6            78                38,276       8.5
    Forsyth, N.C                   172,564       2.4           150                29,873       4.8
    Gaston, N.C                     81,099      -0.2           291                24,784       3.8
    Guilford, N.C                  267,553       2.9           115                28,370       3.0
    Mecklenburg, N.C               452,611       4.8            40                34,337       5.5
    New Hanover, N.C                79,468       5.0            31                25,062       3.6
    Wake, N.C                      339,184       6.1            11                29,338       5.6

    Cass, N.D                       75,776       4.3            58               $24,367       3.7
    Butler, Ohio                   111,771       2.5           142                28,787       4.2
    Cuyahoga, Ohio                 797,208       1.7           214                32,563       5.1
    Franklin, Ohio                 652,292       3.2            99                30,263       5.8
    Hamilton, Ohio                 562,008       2.4           154                32,599       5.1
    Lake, Ohio                      97,909       1.7           210                28,313       4.0
    Lorain, Ohio                   101,781       0.1           286                28,791       2.0
    Lucas, Ohio                    233,203       0.5           276                29,853       4.5
    Mahoning, Ohio                 109,103       1.9           194                24,117       3.5
    Montgomery, Ohio               303,454       0.8           262                31,402       3.7
    Stark, Ohio                    168,912       1.1           248                26,253       3.8
    Summit, Ohio                   258,816       1.0           252                29,701       3.4
    Trumbull, Ohio                  97,149      -0.6           293                31,335       3.1
    Oklahoma, Okla                 385,562       1.8           200                26,201       3.8
    Tulsa, Okla                    316,447       4.8            41                28,146       5.2
    Clackamas, Ore                 121,531       4.5            49                28,709       5.5
    Lane, Ore                      132,656       3.3            93                25,166       4.2
    Marion, Ore                    122,321       2.2           172                25,059       4.2
    Multnomah, Ore                 439,795       3.5            81                32,281       5.4
    Washington, Ore                201,957       6.7             6                34,933       6.6
    Allegheny, Pa                  682,555       1.6           217                32,612       4.9
    Berks, Pa                      161,498       1.6           215                29,432       4.3
    Bucks, Pa                      226,760       3.0           109                30,235       3.3
    Chester, Pa                    193,866       4.9            37                37,037       5.9
    Cumberland, Pa                 122,378       2.1           178                28,907       5.0
    Dauphin, Pa                    166,286       2.3           162                30,286       3.2
    Delaware, Pa                   212,667       2.9           110                31,952       1.9
    Erie, Pa                       124,764       1.6           222                26,795       3.3
    Lackawanna, Pa                  95,867       0.7           266                24,402       2.9
    Lancaster, Pa                  206,861       3.1           106                27,272       3.0
    Lehigh, Pa                     158,060       3.3            90                31,550       3.2
    Luzerne, Pa                    136,270       1.4           232                25,561       4.7
    Montgomery, Pa                 451,214       3.8            71                37,051       6.1
    Northampton, Pa                 82,302       1.0           256                28,044       3.7
    Philadelphia, Pa               642,515      -0.2           289                35,645       3.1
    Westmoreland, Pa               130,289       2.5           146                25,826       4.5
    York, Pa                       159,743       1.2           244                28,113       4.3
    San Juan, P.R                  317,075       2.8           119                18,671       3.7
    Providence, R.I                277,660       1.5           223                29,658       4.4
    Charleston, S.C.               168,211       5.0            30                24,055       4.0
    Greenville, S.C.               214,486       3.1           101                27,751       3.9
    Horry, S.C.                     89,128       5.1            26                19,527       5.3
    Lexington, S.C.                 75,346       5.5            22                23,976       3.8
    Richland, S.C.                 194,939       2.0           187                26,057       4.2
    Spartanburg, S.C.              118,265       1.9           196                27,028       4.2
    Minnehaha, S.D                  94,247       3.6            77                24,792       4.3
    Davidson, Tenn                 410,337       2.8           122                30,866       6.0
    Hamilton, Tenn                 173,805       1.0           255                28,018       5.4
    Knox, Tenn                     191,282       1.8           204                26,724       4.6
    Shelby, Tenn                   476,642       3.2            98                30,165       4.8

    Bell, Tex                       81,322       3.3            91               $22,797       0.2
    Bexar, Tex                     605,679       4.6            47                25,836       4.4
    Cameron, Tex                    96,404       3.1           105                20,041       5.2
    Collin, Tex                    133,364       7.1             4                34,858       4.2
    Dallas, Tex                  1,403,692       6.0            13                36,531       6.6
    Denton, Tex                     98,783       6.5             9                25,150       2.5
    El Paso, Tex                   239,197       2.7           130                22,748       4.2
    Fort Bend, Tex                  77,459       5.1            29                31,931       6.7
    Galveston, Tex                  86,307       3.1           103                26,926        6/
    Harris, Tex                  1,685,571       4.7            45                35,568       6.3
    Hidalgo, Tex                   140,410       4.1            63                19,779       4.5
    Jefferson, Tex                 118,431       4.3            56                29,046       4.6
    Lubbock, Tex                   109,604       2.7           126                23,437       3.2
    Mc Lennan, Tex                  93,584       2.7           129                24,383       4.6
    Nueces, Tex                    137,272       1.8           205                25,697       2.6
    Smith, Tex                      77,655       4.9            32                26,109       3.2
    Tarrant, Tex                   633,801       4.0            65                30,721       5.4
    Travis, Tex                    464,445       4.3            55                32,884       8.6
    Davis, Utah                     78,041       7.3             3                23,989       1.1
    Salt Lake, Utah                490,471       4.0            66                28,200       6.0
    Utah, Utah                     125,101       4.2            61                23,842       1.5
    Weber, Utah                     84,481       3.1           102                23,821       4.3
    Chittenden, Vt                  86,355       1.3           236                29,833       4.4
    Arlington, Va                  159,108       1.5           228                46,145        6/
    Chesterfield, Va                97,932       2.5           138                27,793       3.5
    Fairfax, Va                    457,392       4.9            35                40,508       6.8
    Henrico, Va                    149,419       5.8            17                30,297       5.0
    Alexandria, Va                  84,241       4.3            54                37,232       5.5
    Newport News, Va                92,538       5.9            15                26,536       1.3
    Norfolk, Va                    149,175       3.3            95                27,996       3.0
    Richmond, Va                   172,921       2.6           133                33,840       4.8
    Virginia Beach, Va             148,201       5.6            20                22,921       6.3
    Clark, Wash                    105,545       4.9            38                28,148       4.3
    King, Wash                   1,044,434       5.8            18                37,296       8.6
    Pierce, Wash                   222,352       3.8            73                26,455       3.5
    Snohomish, Wash                202,962       7.5             1                32,262       5.9
    Spokane, Wash                  177,659       2.0           188                25,530       4.0
    Thurston, Wash                  78,872       2.8           120                27,377       3.0
    Yakima, Wash                    92,590       2.3           156                20,716       4.7
    Kanawha, W.Va                  109,445       1.6           221                27,698       3.0
    Brown, Wis                     130,794       2.5           137                28,916       6.6
    Dane, Wis                      255,696       2.2           170                28,474       4.7
    Milwaukee, Wis                 524,141       1.5           226                30,917       5.6
    Outagamie, Wis                  90,496       3.0           108                27,416       3.6
    Racine, Wis                     78,560       1.1           246                30,341       8.5
    Waukesha, Wis                  204,265       3.5            82                31,442       5.6
    Wisnnebago, Wis                 82,937       1.9           191                30,029       5.5


    1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation 
    for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.  The 296 U.S. counties comprise 69.5 percent of total 
    covered employment in the U.S.
    2 / Includes areas not officially designated as counties.  See technical note.
    3 / Percent changes were computed from annual employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic
    county reclassifications.  See technical note.
    4 / Rankings for percent change in employment are based on the 296 counties that are comparable
    over the year.
    5 / Calculations for the U.S. do not include data from Puerto Rico.
    6 / Data for these counties are not comparable over the year due to significant changes in the 
    reporting procedures.


    Table 2.  County rankings of employment and average annual pay for 1997 and 1996-97 percent changes
    for all covered workers 1/ in the 297 largest counties

                                               Employment                 Average annual pay
                                         
       County 2/                            1997        Net           1997    Ranked   Ranked by
                                                      Change,                 By 1997  percent
                                                     1996-97 3/               Level    change
                                                                                       1996-97 4/

    Los Angeles, Calif.                  3,887,834     72,400        $34,846     48      173
    Cook, Ill.                           2,631,765     39,558         36,795     31       31
    New York, N.Y.                       2,195,454     58,361         58,791      1       24
    Harris, Tex.                         1,685,571     76,221         35,568     39       25
    Dallas, Tex.                         1,403,692     79,740         36,531     34       21
    Maricopa, Ariz.                      1,356,225     69,136         29,405    139       63
    Orange, Calif.                       1,234,639     50,067         33,767     59      104
    San Diego, Calif.                    1,061,622     44,539         30,364    112       78
    King, Wash.                          1,044,434     56,839         37,296     25        4
    Dade, Fla.                             937,525     14,975         29,030    148      277
    Santa Clara, Calif.                    932,264     45,311         48,702      3        2
    Wayne, Mich.                           849,248      5,327         37,026     29      274
    Hennepin, Minn.                        822,466     18,736         36,547     33       27
    Cuyahoga, Ohio                         797,208     12,945         32,563     74       90
    Middlesex, Mass.                       783,789     29,399         39,957     14       34
    Oakland, Mich.                         709,824     19,887         38,828     19      101
    Fulton, Ga                             696,742     17,089         37,843     22       14
    Allegheny, Pa.                         682,555     10,863         32,612     72      103
    Franklin, Ohio                         652,292     20,234         30,263    117       50
    Philadelphia, Pa                       642,515     (1,032)        35,645     38      248
    Tarrant, Tex                           633,801     24,651         30,721    106       75
    Alameda, Calif                         633,790     15,115         36,580     32       32
    St. Louis, Mo                          620,247     17,429         33,370     65       45
    Bexar, Tex                             605,679     26,386         25,836    238      149
    Broward, Fla                           602,173     10,179         28,401    168      247
    District Of Columbia, D.C.             595,511    (14,258)        46,775      4       83
    Clark, Nev                             585,623     36,662         28,581    161      243
    Marion, Ind                            572,615     12,511         31,992     84       77
    Nassau, N.Y                            569,998      8,849         35,186     43      143
    Suffolk, Mass                          562,802     10,223         44,415      8       80
    Hamilton, Ohio                         562,008     12,987         32,599     73       92
    San Francisco, Calif                   558,733     16,491         44,144      9       23
    Orange, Fla                            539,275     25,358         27,317    196      136
    Du Page, Ill                           533,689     18,715         36,507     35       51
    Hillsborough, Fla                      531,021     23,606         27,464    192      128
    Milwaukee, Wis                         524,141      7,640         30,917    102       60
    Suffolk, N.Y                           521,913      8,078         33,418     64      138
    Sacramento, Calif                      518,744     16,275         32,162     82      102
    Salt Lake, Utah                        490,471     18,868         28,200    175       35
    Hartford, Conn                         485,815      7,241         37,545     24       73
    Shelby, Tenn                           476,642     14,841         30,165    119      113
    Travis, Tex                            464,445     19,257         32,884     70        3
    San Bernardino, Calif                  459,540     12,313         26,894    213      222
    Fairfax, Va                            457,392     21,447         40,508     11       16
    Queens, N.Y                            453,665      5,168         31,412     95      271
    Mecklenburg, N.C                       452,611     20,890         34,337     53       68
    Montgomery, Pa                         451,214     16,422         37,051     27       33
    Erie, N.Y                              449,287      3,171         28,339    171      269
    Multnomah, Ore                         439,795     14,840         32,281     79       70
    Bergen, N.J                            434,340      8,709         40,143     13      116

    Palm Beach, Fla                        433,714     14,503        $29,821    127      267
    Denver, Colo                           431,111     14,410         35,025     44       38
    Jefferson, Ky                          418,427      9,632         28,755    156      218
    Duval, Fla                             412,991     15,776         28,373    169      185
    Kings, N.Y                             412,874      2,505         27,853    183      293
    Fairfield, Conn                        412,441      9,595         49,867      2        1
    Davidson, Tenn                         410,337     11,146         30,866    104       40
    Honolulu, Hawaii                       400,672     (1,648)        29,511    135      170
    Montgomery, Md                         399,939     10,529         37,686     23      122
    Pinellas, Fla                          395,660     12,521         27,198    202       54
    Monroe, N.Y                            390,812      2,787         33,541     62      208
    Riverside, Calif                       390,651     18,189         25,352    250      189
    Jackson, Mo                            388,971     12,934         30,886    103      255
    Oklalahoma, Okla                       385,562      6,949         26,201    228      198
    Baltimore City, Md                     382,211      2,895         33,787     58      118
    Westchester, N.Y                       379,896      4,875         39,832     16      168
    Middlesex, N.J                         374,200      7,618         40,157     12      156
    Jefferson, Ala                         373,013      6,528         30,326    114      195
    New Haven, Conn                        355,623      7,897         33,923     56      127
    Essex, N.J                             352,413      2,729         39,430     18      265
    Baltimore, Md                          340,186      6,983         30,410    110      216
    Wake, N.C                              339,184     19,602         29,338    140       61
    San Mateo, Calif                       330,445     14,202         42,380     10       15
    Macomb, Mich                           329,925      1,346         36,806     30       74
    Kent, Mich                             327,849     11,128         30,400    111      180
    San Juan, P.R                          317,075      8,654         18,671    297      205
    Ramsey, Minn                           316,884      3,994         33,531     63      244
    Tulsa, Okla                            316,447     14,603         28,146    178       81
    Fresno, Calif                          307,691        (55)        22,875    285      157
    Contra Costa, Calif                    307,601     11,033         35,959     37      121
    Douglas, Neb                           306,724      5,418         28,537    162       22
    Dekalb, Ga                             305,896      3,277         34,205     54        9
    Norfolk, Mass                          303,729      5,172         35,428     41      146
    Montgomery, Ohio                       303,454      2,437         31,402     96      206
    Worcester, Mass                        302,914      7,551         31,522     93       97
    Pima, Ariz                             296,945      6,447         25,491    247      239
    Bernalillo, N.M                        294,708      4,144         26,974    210      142
    Prince George's, Md                    288,996      5,271         32,644     71       46
    Essex, Mass                            284,658      3,541         32,364     76       64
    Providence, R.I                        277,660      4,179         29,658    132      148
    Lake, Ill                              274,267      7,801         36,469     36       67
    Guilford, N.C                          267,553      7,443         28,370    170      253
    Cobb, Ga                               266,920      9,055         32,079     83      111
    New Castle, Del                        266,745      9,700         35,430     40       99
    Orleans, La                            262,034      1,400         29,444    136       44
    Summit, Ohio                           258,816      2,648         29,701    129      223
    Ventura, Calif                         257,542      1,073         30,454    109        8
    St. Louis City, Mo                     255,925     (5,999)        34,752     50       30
    Dane, Wis                              255,696      5,526         28,474    165      120
    Morris, N.J                            251,545      5,953         44,872      7      105

    Johnson, Kan                           250,161     14,319        $30,510    108       76
    Arapahoe, Colo                         250,156     13,640         35,322     42       37
    Polk, Iowa                             247,541      2,370         29,719    128       28
    Onondaga, N.Y                          244,765        726         29,518    134      181
    Sedgwick, Kan                          242,373     11,771         30,111    121       62
    El Paso, Tex                           239,197      6,268         22,748    287      165
    Pulaski, Ariz                          238,100      4,431         27,480    191      172
    Gwinnett, Ga                           235,402     12,231         32,316     77       52
    Lucas, Ohio                            233,203      1,212         29,853    125      133
    Kern, Calif                            227,079      1,973         25,398    248      140
    Bucks, Pa                              226,760      6,572         30,235    118      231
    Hudson, N.J                            226,400        713         38,455     20      144
    Union, N.J                             226,321      3,144         39,784     17      135
    East Baton Rouge, La                   223,147      3,727         26,929    211      210
    Pierce, Wash                           222,352      8,046         26,455    220      215
    Albany, N.Y                            221,312         14         31,311     99      152
    Monmouth, N.J                          220,599      6,271         34,161     55       29
    Greenville, S.C                        214,486      6,541         27,751    186      184
    El Paso, Colo                          212,766      9,183         27,296    197       43
    Delaware, Pa                           212,667      6,052         31,952     85      280
    Jefferson, La                          209,834      4,766         25,352    251       88
    Bristol, Mass                          207,601      2,824         27,067    207      174
    Lancaster, Pa                          206,861      6,139         27,272    198      249
    Bronx, N.Y                             204,857       (369)        30,128    120      283
    Waukesha, Wis                          204,265      6,865         31,442     94       59
    Snohomish, Wash                        202,962     14,180         32,262     80       48
    Washington, Ore                        201,957     12,763         34,933     45       20
    Lake, Ind                              201,121      4,947         28,986    149      276
    Jefferson, Colo                        197,483      6,620         31,766     89      124
    Camden, N.J                            197,444      2,873         31,850     88      241
    Mercer, N.J                            197,019      2,823         39,835     15       42
    Richland, S.C                          194,939      3,863         26,057    234      161
    Chester, Pa                            193,866      9,013         37,037     28       47
    Hampden, Mass                          192,917      4,124         28,700    159      207
    Knox, Tenn                             191,282      3,364         26,724    216      131
    Allen, Ind                             184,331      4,430         28,880    153      204
    San Joaquin, Calif                     183,091      4,734         26,101    233       72
    Washtenaw, Mich                        182,484      3,780         34,546     51       36
    Hillsborough, N.H                      179,066      3,735         32,426     75       96
    Spokane, Wash                          177,659      3,426         25,530    245      177
    Genesee, Mich                          174,895     (2,851)        33,640     61      289
    Washoe, Nev                            174,853      5,250         28,451    166      260
    Passaic, N.J                           174,142      1,766         34,434     52      199
    Ingham, Mich                           173,857      3,068         31,888     87       39
    Hamilton, Tenn                         173,805      1,698         28,018    181       71
    Anne Arundel, Md                       173,370      4,711         30,591    107      110
    Richmond, Va                           172,921      4,376         33,840     57      112
    Forsyth, N.C                           172,564      4,047         29,873    124      115
    Polk, Fla                              171,721      2,175         25,019    260      196
    Sonoma, Calif                          171,530      7,962         28,724    157       19

    Brevard, Fla                           170,876      4,700        $28,499    163      171
    Stark, Ohio                            168,912      1,851         26,253    226      192
    Mobile, Ala                            168,881      4,199         26,466    219      203
    Charleston, S.C                        168,211      8,082         24,055    276      179
    Burlington, N.J                        166,623      5,243         32,943     69      213
    Dauphin, Pa                            166,286      3,772         30,286    116      238
    Santa Barbara, Calif                   165,158      2,695         27,738    187       56
    Kane, Ill                              164,417      3,667         29,644    133      175
    Somerset, N.J                          162,339      8,308         45,937      6       11
    Fayette, Ky                            161,675      3,405         27,103    205      132
    Berks, Pa                              161,498      2,619         29,432    138      150
    York, Pa                               159,743      1,892         28,113    179      155
    Arlington, Va                          159,108      2,306         46,145      5       5/
    Plymouth, Mass                         158,496      5,830         29,250    142      158
    Lehigh, Pa                             158,060      5,026         31,550     92      234
    Cumberland, Maine                      155,090      6,375         27,541    190      145
    Durham, N.C                            153,103      5,286         38,276     21        5
    Boulder, Colo                          152,802      7,167         33,198     66       13
    Ada, Idaho                             151,201      6,299         28,420    167      262
    Monterey, Calif                        150,752      4,045         26,103    232       94
    Henrico, Va                            149,419      8,147         30,297    115       93
    Norfolk, Va                            149,175      4,701         27,996    182      254
    Virginia Beach, Va                     148,201      7,824         22,921    284       26
    Lee, Fla                               147,779      3,266         24,112    275      202
    Stanislaus, Calif                      147,624      6,758         24,908    261      106
    Madison, Ala                           145,790      3,316         32,255     81      193
    Winnebago, Ill                         141,523      1,320         29,073    146      126
    Hinds, Miss                            140,955      3,076         27,253    199      108
    Hidalgo, Tex                           140,410      5,560         19,779    295      134
    Sangamon, Ill                          139,155      2,360         31,355     97       98
    Atlantic, N.J                          137,605      1,767         29,087    144      286
    Nueces, Tex                            137,272      2,412         25,697    241      270
    Dakota, Minn                           136,866      3,122         29,443    137      237
    Luzerne, Pa                            136,270      1,905         25,561    244      123
    Lancaster, Neb                         135,653      2,806         25,182    253      109
    Volusia, Fla                           135,619        322         22,078    289      186
    Leon, Fla                              135,518      6,670         25,608    243      225
    Greene, Mo                             133,622      4,420         24,274    273      220
    Collin, Tex                            133,364      8,848         34,858     47      160
    Lane, Ore                              132,656      4,189         25,166    255      163
    Brown, Wis                             130,794      3,232         28,916    151       18
    Westmoreland, Pa                       130,289      3,128         25,826    240      139
    Montgomery, Ala                        128,506      2,273         25,904    237      230
    St. Joseph, Ind                        127,195      2,910         26,572    217      214
    Utah, Utah                             125,101      5,036         23,842    279      285
    Sarasota, Fla                          124,994      7,089         25,276    252       41
    Erie, Pa                               124,764      1,906         26,795    214      232
    Adams, Colo                            124,453      2,379         28,609    160       82
    Tulare, Calif                          123,292      1,468         20,770    292       91
    Ocean, N.J                             123,013      1,138         26,745    215      245

    Cumberland, Pa                         122,378      2,533        $28,907    152       95
    Marion, Ore                            122,321      2,591         25,059    259      166
    Seminole, Fla                          122,222      7,196         26,345    223      107
    Anchorage, Alaska                      121,917      2,919         34,788     49      190
    Clackamas, Ore                         121,531      5,228         28,709    158       66
    Will, Ill                              120,281      2,185         29,273    141      235
    New London, Conn                       119,684      2,388         33,043     67      233
    Kalamazoo, Mich                        119,519         96         30,066    122      281
    Escambia, Fla                          119,025        843         24,462    268      251
    Jefferson, Tex                         118,431      4,905         29,046    147      129
    Spartanburg, S.C                       118,265      2,156         27,028    209      169
    Chatham, Ga                            118,197      2,240         26,187    229      258
    Caddo, La                              117,146        762         26,019    235      240
    Rockingham, N.H                        115,110      4,630         29,674    131        7
    Manatee, Fla                           114,920      5,241         21,553    291      259
    Elkhart, Ind                           113,055      1,484         27,208    201      227
    Butler, Ohio                           111,771      2,719         28,787    155      164
    Linn, Iowa                             110,530      2,665         29,076    145       58
    Orange, N.Y                            110,191      1,098         26,275    225      291
    Lafayette, La                          110,133      6,902         28,207    174       12
    Lubbock, Tex                           109,604      2,917         23,437    283      242
    Kanawha, W. Va                         109,445      1,676         27,698    188      252
    Alachua, Fla                           109,124      1,792         23,505    282       86
    Mahoning, Ohio                         109,103      2,009         24,117    274      219
    Ottawa, Mich                           109,095      3,441         28,955    150      188
    Howard, Md                             108,082      5,707         32,987     68       84
    Clayton, Ga                            106,485      2,461         31,755     90      162
    Vanderburgh, Ind                       105,576        745         26,241    227       57
    Clark, Wash                            105,545      4,903         28,148    177      159
    Larimer, Colo                          104,932      3,492         27,413    194      114
    Oneida, N.Y                            104,529        542         25,167    254      137
    Marin, Calif                           104,282      3,185         34,860     46      147
    Solano, Calif                          103,680      2,584         27,031    208       89
    Richmond, Ga                           103,122      2,185         25,611    242      182
    Dutchess, N.Y                          102,930      1,069         31,104    100      282
    Buncombe, N.C                          102,539      3,617         24,781    265      197
    Peoria, Ill                            102,301      1,423         27,694    189       85
    Lorain, Ohio                           101,781         59         28,791    154      279
    Cumberland, N.C                        101,663      3,826         23,574    281      117
    Santa Cruz, Calif                       99,618      2,394         27,188    203      167
    Denton, Tex                             98,783      6,037         25,150    256      272
    Rockland, N.Y                           98,015      1,780         33,662     60      273
    Chesterfield, Va                        97,932      2,410         27,793    184      221
    Lake, Ohio                              97,909      1,655         28,313    172      183
    Trumbull, Ohio                          97,149       (562)        31,335     98      246
    Anoka, Minn                             96,766      2,132         29,699    130       49
    Cameron, Tex                            96,404      2,893         20,041    294       87
    Shawnee, Kan                            96,065        414         26,131    230      266
    Lackawanna, Pa                          95,867        682         24,402    270      257
    Muscogee, Ga                            95,766         5/         24,766    267       5/

    Broome, N.Y                             95,586      1,500        $27,172    204      264
    Saginaw, Mich                           95,154      1,056         31,557     91      229
    Catawba, N.C                            94,478      1,984         24,869    262      125
    Minnehaha, S.D                          94,247      3,288         24,792    263      154
    Mc Lennan, Tex                          93,584      2,460         24,383    271      130
    Yakima, Wash                            92,590      2,126         20,716    293      119
    Newport News, Va                        92,538      5,163         26,536    218      287
    Madison, Ill                            92,474        269         26,323    224      268
    St. Louis, Minn                         90,747      1,853         25,352    249      263
    Outagamie, Wis                          90,496      2,643         27,416    193      212
    Bibb, Ga                                89,226      2,192         26,437    221      256
    Horry, S.C                              89,128      4,357         19,527    296       79
    Placer, Calif                           87,617      6,017         27,235    200      100
    Collier, Fla                            87,467      3,541         25,500    246       10
    St. Clair, Ill                          86,762      1,724         24,411    269      228
    San Luis Obispo, Calif                  86,491      5,527         24,771    266      226
    St. Charles, Mo                         86,410      3,979         25,954    236      284
    Chittenden, Vt                          86,355      1,144         29,833    126      141
    Galveston, Tex                          86,307      2,622         26,926    212       5/
    Weber, Utah                             84,481      2,570         23,821    280      151
    Alexandria, Va                          84,241      3,494         37,232     26       69
    Scott, Iowa                             84,074      2,313         26,403    222      153
    Champaign, Ill                          83,320        879         25,826    239      224
    Wisnnebago, Wis                         82,937      1,571         30,029    123       65
    Harrison, Miss                          82,438      3,451         21,814    290      290
    Northampton, Pa                         82,302        804         28,044    180      201
    Calcasieu, La                           81,981        449         27,067    206      187
    Gloucester, N.J                         81,635      1,897         29,232    143      178
    Bell, Tex                               81,322      2,580         22,797    286      292
    Gaston, N.C                             81,099       (201)        24,784    264      194
    Richmond, N.Y                           80,633      2,186         28,223    173      278
    Clay, Mo                                80,459      2,066         27,771    185      275
    Barnstable, Mass                        79,917      2,556         25,132    257      176
    New Hanover, N.C                        79,468      3,781         25,062    258      211
    Thurston, Wash                          78,872      2,147         27,377    195      250
    Niagara, N.Y                            78,864        682         28,491    164      217
    Wyandotte, Kan                          78,608      1,134         31,033    101      261
    Racine, Wis                             78,560        882         30,341    113        6
    McHenry, Ill                            78,445      1,569         28,175    176       53
    Davis, Utah                             78,041      5,337         23,989    277      288
    Smith, Tex                              77,655      3,652         26,109    231      236
    Marion, Fla                             77,558      3,021         22,473    288      209
    Fort Bend, Tex                          77,459      3,753         31,931     86       17
    Yolo, Calif                             76,984        459         30,739    105       55
    Rock Island, Ill                        76,850      2,118         32,293     78       5/
    Cass, N.D                               75,776      3,106         24,367    272      200
    Lexington, S.C                          75,346      3,914         23,976    278      191


    1/ Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for
    Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.  The 296 U.S. counties comprise 69.5 percent of total
    covered employment in the U.S.
    2/ Includes areas not officially designated as counties.  See technical note.
    3/ Percent changes were computed from annual employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic 
    county reclassifications.  See technical note.
    4/ Rankings for percent change in average annual pay are based on the 293 counties that are
    comparable over the year.
    5/ Data for these counties are not comparable over the year due to significant changes in the  
    reporting procedures.