Technical information:  (202) 691-6567     USDL 06-1275
               http://www.bls.gov/cew/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902     Wednesday, July 26, 2006


             COUNTY EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES:  FOURTH QUARTER 2005

   In December 2005, Lee County, Fla., had the largest over-the-year
percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S.,
according to preliminary data released today by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.  Lee County, which includes
Fort Myers, experienced an over-the-year employment gain of 9.2 percent,
compared with national job growth of 1.7 percent.  Orleans County (New
Orleans), La., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages
in the fourth quarter of 2005, with an increase of 28.7 percent.  The in-
crease in Orleans County was related to the effects of Hurricane Katrina,
discussed in some detail below.  The U.S. average weekly wage increased by
1.5 percent over the same time span.
   
   Of the 322 largest counties in the United States, as measured by 2004
annual average employment, 133 had over-the-year percentage growth in em-
ployment above the national average in December 2005, and 176 experienced
changes below the national average.  Average weekly wages grew faster than 
the national average in 127 of the largest U.S. counties, while the percent 
change in average weekly wages was below the national average in 183 counties.  
   
   The employment and 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 reports submitted by every
employer subject to unemployment insurance (UI) laws.  The 8.7 million em-
ployer reports cover 133.8 million full- and part-time workers.  The at-
tached tables contain data for the nation and for the 322 U.S. counties 
with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2004.  December 
2005 employment and 2005 fourth-quarter average weekly wages for all states 
are provided in table 4 of this release.  Final data for all states, metro-
politan statistical areas, counties, and the nation through the fourth quar-
ter of 2004 are available on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/cew/.  
Preliminary data for the fourth quarter of 2005 and revised data for the first, 
second, and third quarters of 2005 will be available in July on the BLS Web 
site.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------- 
   |                     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita                   |
   |                                                                   |
   |    The measures of employment and wages reported in this news     |
   | release reflect the impact of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and| 
   | ongoing labor market trends.  The effects of Hurricane Katrina,   |
   | which hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, were first reflected |
   | in the September QCEW employment counts and the wage totals for   |
   | the third quarter of 2005.  The impact of this catastrophic storm |
   | in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi continue to be reflected    |
   | in monthly employment and quarterly wage totals in the fourth     |
   | quarter of 2005.  Modifications to QCEW nonresponse adjustment    | 
   | methods were made for both the third and fourth quarters of 2005  |
   | to better reflect the impact of the hurricane in parts of         |
   | Louisiana and Mississippi.  Hurricane Rita made landfall on       | 
   | September 24, after the September reference period.  Nonresponse  |
   | adjustment methods were modified for the fourth quarter of 2005   | 
   | to reflect the impact of this hurricane in parts of Louisiana.    |
   | For more information, see the QCEW section of the Katrina         |
   | coverage on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/katrina/       |
   | qcewquestions.htm.                                                |
    -------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                     


                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Top 10 large counties ranked by December 2005 employment, December 2004-05
employment growth, and December 2004-05 percent growth in employment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Employment in large counties
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           |                            |
 December 2005 employment  |    Growth in employment,   |    Percent growth  
        (thousands)        |      December 2004-05      |    in employment, 
                           |        (thousands)         |   December 2004-05
---------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------
U.S.              133,834.6|U.S.                 2,275.4|U.S.                   1.7       
---------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------
Los Angeles, Calif. 4,196.5|Maricopa, Ariz.         97.4|Lee, Fla.              9.2 
Cook, Ill.          2,547.4|Los Angeles, Calif.     73.4|Kern, Calif.           8.6    
New York, N.Y.      2,310.7|Harris, Texas           69.7|Pasco, Fla.            7.9 
Harris, Texas       1,919.8|Clark, Nev.             56.2|Seminole, Fla.         7.8 
Maricopa, Ariz.     1,784.8|New York, N.Y.          44.2|Clark, Nev.            6.7 
Orange, Calif.      1,507.7|Dallas, Texas           39.3|Montgomery, Texas      6.6 
Dallas, Texas       1,457.5|King, Wash.             37.5|Lake, Fla.             6.5 
San Diego, Calif.   1,315.8|Broward, Fla.           30.7|Maricopa, Ariz.        5.8 
King, Wash.         1,145.1|Orange, Fla.            28.9|Webb, Texas            5.7 
Miami-Dade, Fla.    1,022.1|Orange, Calif.          28.4|Collier, Fla.          5.6 
                           |                            |East Baton Rouge, La.  5.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Large County Employment
   
   In December 2005, national employment, as measured by the QCEW pro-
gram, was 133.8 million, up by 1.7 percent from December 2004.  The 322 U.S.
counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 70.8 percent of total
U.S. covered employment and 76.9 percent of total covered wages.  These 322
counties had a net job gain of 1,500,400 over the year, accounting for 65.9
percent of the U.S. employment increase.  Employment increased in 250 of
the large counties from December 2004 to December 2005.  Lee, Fla., had the
largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (9.2 percent).  Kern, 
Calif., had the next largest increase, 8.6 percent, followed by the coun-
ties of Pasco, Fla. (7.9 percent), Seminole, Fla. (7.8 percent), and Clark, 
Nev. (6.7 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   Employment declined in 56 counties from December 2004 to December 2005.
The largest percentage decline in employment was in Orleans County, La. 
(-39.3 percent), followed by the counties of Harrison, Miss. (-20.2 percent),
and Jefferson, La. (-17.0 percent).  Employment losses in these three Gulf
Coast counties reflected the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Stark, 
Ohio, had the next largest employment decline (-1.8 percent), followed by  
Saginaw, Mich. (-1.5 percent).
   
   The largest gains in employment from December 2004 to December 2005 were
recorded in the counties of Maricopa, Ariz. (97,400), Los Angeles, Calif.
(73,400), Harris, Texas (69,700), Clark, Nev. (56,200), and New York, N.Y.
(44,200).  (See table A.)
   
   The largest declines in employment occurred in the Katrina-affected
counties of Orleans, La. (-96,800), Jefferson, La. (-36,900), and Harrison,
Miss. (-18,200), followed by the counties of Wayne, Mich. (-11,400), and
Oakland, Mich. (-5,700).

                                  - 3 -
   
Table B.  Top 10 large counties ranked by fourth quarter 2005 average weekly  
wages, fourth quarter 2004-05 growth in average weekly wages, and fourth  
quarter 2004-05 percent growth in average weekly wages
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Average weekly wage in large counties     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           |                         |    
   Average weekly wage,    | Growth in average weekly|   Percent growth in
   fourth quarter 2005     |   wage, fourth quarter  |  average weekly wage,     
                           |          2004-05        | fourth quarter 2004-05 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------            
U.S.                   $825|U.S.                  $12|U.S.                 1.5  
---------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------
New York, N.Y.       $1,684|Orleans, La.         $216|Orleans, La.        28.7
Fairfield, Conn.      1,496|Jefferson, La.        113|Harrison, Miss.     18.9  
Santa Clara, Calif.   1,490|Harrison, Miss.       108|Jefferson, La.      16.2 
Suffolk, Mass.        1,412|San Francisco, Calif.  96|York, Pa.           10.8
San Francisco, Calif. 1,378|New Castle, Del.       88|New Castle, Del.     9.0  
San Mateo, Calif.     1,365|Fulton, Ga.            80|Fulton, Ga.          7.6
Washington, D.C.      1,354|York, Pa.              76|San Francisco, Calif.7.5 
Arlington, Va.        1,345|Marin, Calif.          71|Collier, Fla.        7.4
Somerset, N.J.        1,296|New York, N.Y.         69|Baltimore City, Md.  7.1  
Fairfax, Va.          1,247|Baltimore City, Md.    66|Marin, Calif.        6.7  
                           |                         |Lake, Fla.           6.7    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Hurricane Rita affected the Texas-Louisiana border counties.  However,
the damage was not as extensive as with Hurricane Katrina.  Despite the
effects of Hurricane Rita, Calcasieu County, La., posted a small over-the-
year gain in employment (1,125) in December 2005--1.3 percent.  Prior to
Hurricane Rita, Calcasieu had posted strong over-the-year employment growth
in both June and September, 5.2 and 4.7 percent, respectively.
   
   The evacuation, due to Hurricane Katrina, of a large part of the New Orleans
area population to other parts of the state likely led to changes in the employ-
ment situation in those counties in the third and fourth quarters of 2005.  For
example, East Baton Rouge County, La., saw a significant employment gain of
5.6 percent over the year ending in December, which followed a year-over-year gain 
of 4.8 percent in September, as contrasted with over-the-year growth of 2.0 per-
cent in June 2005, 3 months before the hurricane.  The pattern of job growth was 
similar in Lafayette, La., which posted an over-the-year gain of 5.5 percent in 
December and 6.2 percent in September, after a gain of only 2.6 percent in June 2005.
   
Large County Average Weekly Wages
   
   The national average weekly wage in the fourth quarter of 2005 was $825.
Average weekly wages were higher than the national average in 105 of the
largest 322 U.S. counties.  New York County, N.Y., held the top position
among the highest-paid large counties with an average weekly wage of $1,684.  
Fairfield, Conn., was second with an average weekly wage of $1,496, followed 
by Santa Clara, Calif. ($1,490), Suffolk, Mass. ($1,412), and San Francisco, 
Calif. ($1,378).  (See table B.)
   
   There were 217 counties with an average weekly wage below the national
average in the fourth quarter of 2005.  The lowest average weekly wages
were reported in Cameron County, Texas ($506), followed by the counties of
Hidalgo, Texas ($512), Webb, Texas ($548), Yakima, Wash. ($552), and Horry,
S.C. ($556).  (See table 1.)

                                  - 4 -
   
   Over the year, the national average weekly wage rose by 1.5 percent.
Among the largest counties, Orleans, La., led the nation in growth in
average weekly wages, with an increase of 28.7 percent from the fourth
quarter of 2004.  Harrison, Miss., was second with 18.9 percent growth,
followed by the counties of Jefferson, La. (16.2 percent), York, Pa. 
(10.8 percent), and New Castle, Del. (9.0 percent).  The high average 
weekly wage growth rates for Orleans, Harrison, and Jefferson Counties 
were related to the disproportionate job and pay losses in lower-paid 
industries due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
   
   Seventy-two counties experienced over-the-year declines in average
weekly wages.  Clayton, Ga., and Williamson, Texas, had the largest de-
crease, -8.6 percent each, followed by the counties of Trumbull, Ohio 
(-5.8 percent), Brown, Wis. (-5.1 percent), and Anoka, Minn. (-4.7 per-
cent).
   
Ten Largest U.S. Counties
   
   Of the 10 largest U.S. counties (based on 2004 annual average employ-
ment levels), all reported increases in employment from December 2004 to
December 2005.  Maricopa County, Ariz., experienced the fastest growth 
in employment among the largest counties, with a 5.8 percent increase.  
Within Maricopa County, employment rose in every industry group except 
natural resources and mining.  The largest gains were in construction 
(13.6 percent) and financial activities (7.3 percent).  Harris, Texas,   
had the next largest increase in employment, 3.8 percent, followed by 
King, Wash. (3.4 percent).  The smallest employment gains occurred in  
Cook County, Ill., and San Diego, Calif. (0.9 percent each), followed by 
Los Angeles, Calif. (1.8 percent).  (See table 2.)   
   
   All of the 10 largest U.S. counties saw over-the-year increases in
average weekly wages.  New York, N.Y., had the fastest growth in wages
among the 10 largest counties, increasing by 4.3 percent.  Within New York
County, average weekly wages increased the most in natural resources and
mining (175.4 percent), a very small sector.  Increases in professional and
business services (4.8 percent), however, had a larger impact on the county's 
wage growth.  Harris, Texas, was second in wage growth, increasing by 3.8 per- 
cent, followed by Dallas County, Texas (3.4 percent).  The smallest wage gains 
among the 10 largest counties occurred in Los Angeles, Calif. (0.3 percent), 
followed by King, Wash. (1.1 percent), and Cook County, Ill. (1.4 percent).
   
Largest County by State
   
   Table 3 shows December 2005 employment and the 2005 fourth quarter
average weekly wage in the largest county in each state, which is based 
on 2004 annual average employment levels.  (This table includes two 
counties--Yellowstone, Mont., and Laramie, Wyo.--that have employment 
levels below 75,000.)  The employment levels in these counties in December 
2005 ranged from approximately 4.2 million in Los Angeles County, Calif., 
to 41,300 in Laramie County, Wyo.  The highest average weekly wage of 
these counties was in New York, N.Y. ($1,684), while the lowest average 
weekly wage was in Laramie, Wyo. ($647).
   
                                  - 5 -

For More Information
   
   For additional information about the quarterly employment and wages data, 
please read the Technical Note or visit the QCEW Web site at http://www.bls.
gov/cew/.  Additional information about the QCEW data also may be obtained 
by e-mailing QCEWinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-6567.
 

     ------------------------------------------------------------------   
    |  Regional Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages News Releases |
    |                                                                  |
    |    Several BLS regional offices are issuing QCEW news releases   |
    | targeted to local data users.  For links to these releases, see  |
    | http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewregional.htm.                          |
     ------------------------------------------------------------------
   
 
 
 
   

                                  - 6 -

Technical Note

   
   These data are the product of a federal-state cooperative program, 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 to-
tal pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) 
legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs).  The summaries 
are a result 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.  Data for 2005 are preliminary and sub-
ject to revision.

   For purposes of this release, large counties are defined as having em-
ployment levels of 75,000 or greater.  In addition, data for San Juan,
Puerto Rico, are provided, but not used in calculating U.S. averages,
rankings, or in the analysis in the text.  Each year, these large counties
are selected on the basis of the preliminary annual average of employment
for the previous year.  The 323 counties presented in this release were
derived using 2004 preliminary annual averages of employment.  All of the
318 counties that were published in the 2004 releases are included in the
2005 releases.  The following counties grew enough in 2004 to be included
in the 2005 releases: Lake, Fla., Wyandotte, Kan., Harford, Md., Washington,
Pa., and Whatcom, Wash.  These counties will be included in all 2005 quar-
terly releases.  The counties in table 2 are selected and sorted each year
based on the annual average employment from the preceding year.

   The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from
data released by the individual states.  These potential differences result
from the states' continuing receipt of UI data over time and ongoing review
and editing.  The individual states determine their data release timetables.
   
Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES employment measures

   The Bureau publishes three different establishment-based employment
measures for any given quarter.  Each of these measures--QCEW, Business
Employment Dynamics (BED), and Current Employment Statistics (CES)--makes
use of the quarterly UI employment reports in producing data; however, 
each measure has a somewhat different universe coverage, estimation pro-
cedure, and publication product.

   Differences in coverage and estimation methods can result in somewhat
different measures of employment change over time. It is important to
understand program differences and the intended uses of the program pro-
ducts.  (See table below.)  Additional information on each program can 
be obtained from the program Web sites shown in the table below.

                                  - 7 -

Summary of Major Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES Employment Measures
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                     
           |         QCEW        |         BED          |         CES
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|-----------------------
Source     |--Count of UI admini-|--Count of longitudi- |--Sample survey: 
           |  strative records   |  nally-linked UI ad- |  400,000 establish-
           |  submitted by 8.6   |  ministrative records|  ments
           |  million establish- |  submitted by 6.7    |
           |  ments              |  million private-sec-|
           |                     |  tor employers       |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|-----------------------
Coverage   |--UI and UCFE cover- |--UI coverage, exclud-|Nonfarm wage and sal-
           |  age, including all |  ing government, pri-|  ary jobs:
           |  employers subject  |  vate households, and|--UI coverage, exclud-
           |  to state and feder-|  establishments with |  ing agriculture, pri-
           |  al UI laws         |  zero employment     |  vate households, and
           |                     |                      |  self-employed workers
           |                     |                      |--Other employment, in-
           |                     |                      |  cluding railroads, 
           |                     |                      |  religious organiza-
           |                     |                      |  tions, and other non-
           |                     |                      |  UI-covered jobs
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|-----------------------
Publication|--Quarterly          |--Quarterly           |--Monthly 
frequency  |  -7 months after the|  -8 months after the |  -Usually first Friday
           |   end of each quar- |   end of each quarter|   of following month
           |   ter               |                      |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|-----------------------
Use of UI  |--Directly summarizes|--Links each new UI   |--Uses UI file as a sam-
file       |  and publishes each |  quarter to longitu- |  pling frame and annu-
           |  new quarter of UI  |  dinal database and  |  ally realigns (bench-
           |  data               |  directly summarizes |  marks) sample esti-    
           |                     |  gross job gains and |  mates to first quar-  
           |                     |  losses              |  ter UI levels
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Principal  |--Provides a quarter-|--Provides quarterly  |--Provides current month-
products   |  ly and annual uni- |  employer dynamics   |  ly estimates of employ-
           |  verse count of es- |  data on establish-  |  ment, hours, and earn-
           |  tablishments, em-  |  ment openings, clos-|  ings at the MSA, state,
           |  ployment, and wages|  ings, expansions,   |  and national level by
           |  at the county, MSA,|  and contractions at |  industry
           |  state, and national|  the national level  |
           |  levels by detailed |  by NAICS supersec-  |
           |  industry           |  tors and by size of |
           |                     |  firm                |
           |                     |--Future expansions   |
           |                     |  will include data at|
           |                     |  the county, MSA, and|
           |                     |  state level
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|--------------------------
Principal  |--Major uses include:|--Major uses include: |--Major uses include:
uses       |  -Detailed locality |  -Business cycle     |  -Principal national
           |   data              |   analysis           |   economic indicator
           |  -Periodic universe |  -Analysis of employ-|  -Official time series 
           |   counts for bench- |   er dynamics under- |   for employment change
           |   marking sample    |   lying economic ex- |   measures
           |   survey estimates  |   pansions and con-  |  -Input into other ma-
           |  -Sample frame for  |   tractions          |   jor economic indi-
           |   BLS establishment |  -Analysis of employ-|   cators
           |   surveys           |   ment expansion and |
           |                     |   contraction by size|
           |                     |   of firm            |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|--------------------------
Program    |--www.bls.gov/cew/   |--www.bls.gov/bdm/    |--www.bls.gov/ces/
Web sites  |                     |                      |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  
                                  - 8 -
   
Coverage
   
   Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI laws are
compiled from quarterly contribution reports submitted to the SWAs by
employers.  For federal civilian workers covered by the Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program, employment and wage data
are compiled from quarterly reports that are sent to the appropriate SWA by
the specific federal agency.  In addition to the quarterly contribution
reports, employers who operate multiple establishments within a state com-
plete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite Report," which provides
detailed information on the location and industry of each of their establish-
ments.  The employment and wage data included in this release are derived
from microdata summaries of more than 8 million employer reports of employ-
ment and wages submitted by states to the BLS.  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 2004, UI and UCFE programs covered workers in 129.3 million
jobs.  The estimated 124.4 million workers in these jobs (after adjust-
ment for multiple jobholders) represented 96.6 percent of civilian wage 
and salary employment.  Covered workers received $5.088 trillion in pay,
representing 94.4 percent of the wage and salary component of personal
income and 43.4 percent of the gross domestic product.
   
   Major exclusions from UI coverage include self-employed workers, most
agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, 
elected officials in most states, most employees of railroads, some domes-
tic workers, most student workers at schools, and employees of certain 
small nonprofit organizations.

   State and federal UI laws change periodically.  These changes may have
an impact on the employment and wages reported by employers covered under
the UI program.  Coverage changes may affect the over-the-year comparisons
presented in this news release.  Beginning with the first quarter of 2005,
Oregon implemented a change in their state UI laws.  This change extended
UI coverage to providers of home care for the elderly.  These providers are
now considered state workers for purposes of UI benefits.  

Concepts and methodology
   
   Monthly employment is based on the number of workers who worked during
or received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month.  With
few exceptions, all employees of covered firms are reported, including pro-
duction and sales workers, corporation officials, executives, supervisory 
personnel, and clerical workers.  Workers on paid vacations and part-time 
workers also are included.
   
   Average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total
wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels (all employees,
as described above) and dividing the result by 13, for the 13 weeks in the
quarter.  These calculations are made using unrounded employment and wage
values.  The average wage values that can be calculated using rounded data
from the BLS database may differ from the averages reported.  Included in
the quarterly wage data are non-wage cash payments such as 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.  Over-the-year comparisons of average
weekly wages may reflect fluctuations in average monthly employment and/or
total quarterly wages between the current quarter and prior year levels.
   
   Average weekly wages are 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 and the incidence of pay periods within a quarter.  For instance,
the average weekly wage of the work force could increase significantly when
there is a large decline in the number of employees that had been receiving
below-average wages.  Wages may include payments to workers not present in
the employment counts because they did not work during the pay period in-
cluding the 12th of the month.  When comparing average weekly wage levels
between industries, states, or quarters, these factors should be taken into
consideration.

                                  - 9 -

   Federal government pay levels are subject to periodic, sometimes large,
fluctuations due to a calendar effect that consists of some quarters having
more pay periods than others.   Most federal employees are paid on a bi-
weekly pay schedule.  As a result of this schedule, in some quarters,
federal wages contain payments for six pay periods, while in other quarters
their wages include payments for seven pay periods.  Over-the-year
comparisons of average weekly wages may reflect this calendar effect.
Higher growth in average weekly wages may be attributed, in part, to a
comparison of quarterly wages for the current year, which include seven pay
periods, with year-ago wages that reflect only six pay periods.  An
opposite effect will occur when wages in the current period, which contain
six pay periods, are compared with year-ago wages that include seven pay
periods.   The effect on over-the-year pay comparisons can be pronounced in
federal government due to the uniform nature of federal payroll processing.
This pattern may exist in private sector pay, however, because there are
more pay period types (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly) it is less
pronounced.  The effect is most visible in counties with large concentra-
tions of federal employment.
                            
   In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, states verify
with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and own-
ership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes
in establishment classification codes resulting from this process are in-
troduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year.  Changes 
resulting from improved employer reporting also are introduced in the first 
quarter. 

   QCEW data are not designed as a time series.  QCEW data are simply the
sums of individual establishment records and reflect 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.  For example, economic change would come from a firm relocating
into the county; administrative change would come from a company correcting
its county designation.
   
   The over-the-year changes of employment and wages presented in this
release have been adjusted to account for most of the administrative
corrections made to the underlying establishment reports.  This is done by
modifying the prior-year levels used to calculate the over-the-year changes. 
Percent changes are calcuated using an adjusted version of the final 2004
quarterly data as the base data.  The adjusted prior-year levels used to
calculate the over-the-year percent change in employment and wages are not
published.  These adjusted prior-year levels do not match the unadjusted
data maintained on the BLS Web site.  Over-the-year change calculations
based on data from the Web site, or from data published in prior BLS news
releases, may differ substantially from the over-the-year changes presented
in this news release.
   
   The adjusted data used to calculate the over-the-year change measures
presented in this release account for most of the administrative changes--
those occurring when employers update the industry, location, and owner-
ship information of their establishments.  The most common adjustments
for administrative change are the result of updated information about the
county location of individual establishments.  Included in these adjust-
ments are administrative changes involving the classification of establish-
ments that were previously reported in the unknown or statewide county or
unknown industry categories.  The adjusted data do not account for adminis-
trative changes caused by multi-unit employers who start reporting for each
individual establishment rather than as a single entity.

                                  - 10 -

   The adjusted data used to calculate the over-the-year change measures
presented in any County Employment and Wages news release are valid for
comparisons between the starting and ending points (a 12-month period)
used in that particular release.  Comparisons may not be valid for any
time period other than the one featured in a release even if the changes
were calculated using adjusted data.

   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.  Areas shown as counties include those 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 for comparative purposes even though townships are the more 
common designation used in New England (and New Jersey).  The regions re-
ferred to in this release are defined as census regions.

Additional statistics and other information
   
   An annual bulletin, Employment and Wages, features comprehensive infor-
mation by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for 
the nation and all states.  The 2004 edition of this bulletin contains
selected data produced by Business Employment Dynamics (BED) on job gains
and losses, as well as selected data from the fourth quarter 2004 version
of this news release.  Employment and Wages Annual Averages, 2004 is now
available for sale from the United States Government Printing Office,
Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250, tele-
phone 866-512-1800, outside of Washington, D.C.  Within Washington, D.C.,
the telephone number is 202-512-1800.  The fax number is 202-512-2104.
Also, the 2004 bulletin is available in a portable document format (PDF)
on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewbultn04.htm.  
   
   News releases on quarterly measures of gross job flows also are 
available upon request from the Division of Administrative Statistics 
and Labor Turnover (Business Employment Dynamics), telephone 202-691-6467;
(http://www.bls.gov/bdm/); (e-mail: BDMInfo@bls.gov).
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200;  TDD message referral
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
 
 
 
 

Table 1. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the 323 largest counties,
fourth quarter 2005(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                     Employment               Average weekly wage(5)   
                                                                                                       
                          Establishments,                                                              
        County(3)          fourth quarter               Percent   Ranking            Percent   Ranking 
                                2005        December    change,      by    Average   change,      by   
                            (thousands)       2005     December   percent   weekly   fourth    percent 
                                          (thousands) 2004-05(4)   change    wage    quarter    change 
                                                                                   2004-05(4)          
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
United States(6).........       8,690.4     133,834.6       1.7         -     $825       1.5         - 
                                                                                                       
Jefferson, AL............          18.9         375.8       0.8       202      836       0.5       221 
Madison, AL..............           8.3         172.2       2.8        81      844      -0.4       260 
Mobile, AL...............           9.9         171.1       3.4        61      712       6.6        12 
Montgomery, AL...........           6.7         138.5       4.0        49      725       0.6       209 
Tuscaloosa, AL...........           4.3          82.9       4.2        43      740       3.9        32 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           7.9         144.0       1.1       170      837       0.8       189 
Maricopa, AZ.............          86.1       1,784.8       5.8         8      818       2.1        94 
Pima, AZ.................          18.7         364.2       3.1        70      717       2.4        80 
Benton, AR...............           4.9          91.5       4.7        26      743       2.3        87 
Pulaski, AR..............          13.7         248.7       1.2       164      749      -1.1       284 
                                                                                                       
Washington, AR...........           5.4          91.9       4.4        29      685       2.4        80 
Alameda, CA..............          48.0         683.1       0.5       222    1,052      -0.5       264 
Contra Costa, CA.........          27.5         344.5      -0.4       282    1,010       0.0       248 
Fresno, CA...............          29.1         345.3       4.0        49      662       1.5       128 
Kern, CA.................          16.7         275.1       8.6         2      683      -0.1       249 
Los Angeles, CA..........         378.7       4,196.5       1.8       128      966       0.3       234 
Marin, CA................          11.6         111.4      -0.1       260    1,133       6.7        10 
Monterey, CA.............          11.9         150.9       0.2       235      720       2.9        59 
Orange, CA...............          91.7       1,507.7       1.9       123      964       2.6        68 
Placer, CA...............           9.9         134.7       2.4        99      810       1.8       107 
                                                                                                       
Riverside, CA............          40.7         625.2       4.3        35      683       0.9       179 
Sacramento, CA...........          48.6         629.0       2.4        99      894       3.5        42 
San Bernardino, CA.......          44.0         654.3       4.4        29      718       0.8       189 
San Diego, CA............          88.9       1,315.8       0.9       192      890       1.8       107 
San Francisco, CA........          43.5         538.1       1.9       123    1,378       7.5         7 
San Joaquin, CA..........          16.4         218.5       1.0       180      718       1.6       119 
San Luis Obispo, CA......           8.7         100.4       1.9       123      690       1.5       128 
San Mateo, CA............          22.7         333.1      -0.4       282    1,365       3.5        42 
Santa Barbara, CA........          13.2         179.0       3.3        65      798       1.4       138 
Santa Clara, CA..........          53.7         877.2       1.7       134    1,490       1.8       107 
                                                                                                       
Santa Cruz, CA...........           8.5          91.9       0.1       241      738      -4.4       314 
Solano, CA...............           9.6         131.2       2.7        86      765       1.5       128 
Sonoma, CA...............          17.4         191.4       0.4       225      821       2.8        61 
Stanislaus, CA...........          13.5         172.6       2.5        95      691       3.1        53 
Tulare, CA...............           8.6         140.6       4.7        26      583       1.6       119 
Ventura, CA..............          20.9         318.3       2.7        86      892      -1.5       288 
Yolo, CA.................           5.3          98.4       1.8       128      729      -4.3       313 
Adams, CO................           9.0         150.5       4.0        49      776      -0.4       260 
Arapahoe, CO.............          19.3         274.7       1.4       152      974      -0.9       280 
Boulder, CO..............          12.3         156.5       1.3       156      971       1.8       107 
                                                                                                       
Denver, CO...............          24.9         431.6       1.8       128    1,003       0.9       179 
El Paso, CO..............          16.7         244.3       2.3       104      750       1.4       138 
Jefferson, CO............          18.5         209.0       1.1       170      817      -0.8       275 
Larimer, CO..............           9.8         125.1       1.6       140      755       3.0        55 
Fairfield, CT............          32.3         420.6       0.9       192    1,496       4.3        25 
Hartford, CT.............          24.6         493.5       1.3       156    1,033       1.5       128 
New Haven, CT............          22.1         366.4      -0.4       282      895       1.0       170 
New London, CT...........           6.7         130.1       0.1       241      842      -0.7       271 
New Castle, DE...........          19.5         286.6       0.0       251    1,068       9.0         5 
Washington, DC...........          30.9         673.5       1.0       180    1,354       4.9        17 
                                                                                                       
Alachua, FL..............           6.3         125.1       (7)         -      656       (7)         - 
Brevard, FL..............          14.0         207.3       5.0        18      777       0.5       221 
Broward, FL..............          62.3         752.1       4.3        35      813       1.0       170 
Collier, FL..............          12.0         136.8       5.6        10      801       7.4         8 
Duval, FL................          24.9         462.3       4.2        43      816       1.2       154 
Escambia, FL.............           7.7         128.8       2.4        99      675       3.7        36 
Hillsborough, FL.........          35.1         643.8       2.7        86      781       0.6       209 
Lake, FL.................           6.5          83.4       6.5         7      669       6.7        10 
Lee, FL..................          17.9         223.6       9.2         1      733       2.8        61 
Leon, FL.................           7.8         147.6      -0.7       297      708       0.9       179 
                                                                                                       
Manatee, FL..............           8.3         130.8       1.1       170      642       2.4        80 
Marion, FL...............           7.6         101.5       (7)         -      613       1.7       114 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          84.4       1,022.1       2.1       113      833       1.5       128 
Okaloosa, FL.............           6.1          83.6       (7)         -      666       (7)         - 
Orange, FL...............          33.4         675.4       4.5        28      766       0.9       179 
Palm Beach, FL...........          47.9         565.1       3.1        70      826       0.9       179 
Pasco, FL................           8.8          96.5       7.9         3      600      -0.2       251 
Pinellas, FL.............          30.9         446.6       0.6       216      730       1.1       162 
Polk, FL.................          12.0         211.8       5.0        18      660       2.6        68 
Sarasota, FL.............          14.9         164.3       2.6        91      740       4.2        27 
                                                                                                       
Seminole, FL.............          13.8         174.3       7.8         4      777       3.7        36 
Volusia, FL..............          13.5         166.0       4.8        22      611      -1.6       291 
Bibb, GA.................           4.8          86.6      -1.3       308      682       1.8       107 
Chatham, GA..............           7.3         132.6       0.6       216      718       4.7        19 
Clayton, GA..............           4.4         111.0       3.0        77      758      -8.6       319 
Cobb, GA.................          20.3         318.9       4.2        43      885       0.6       209 
De Kalb, GA..............          17.0         295.2       0.5       222      864      -0.3       253 
Fulton, GA...............          38.3         757.1       1.7       134    1,139       7.6         6 
Gwinnett, GA.............          22.5         323.5       3.4        61      862       0.9       179 
Muscogee, GA.............           4.8          98.7       0.7       210      647       3.7        36 
                                                                                                       
Richmond, GA.............           4.9         107.0       1.2       164      677       0.4       228 
Honolulu, HI.............          23.9         452.5       2.3       104      763       0.9       179 
Ada, ID..................          14.2         203.5       5.4        14      751       1.2       154 
Champaign, IL............           4.0          91.6       0.8       202      679       0.6       209 
Cook, IL.................         132.3       2,547.4       0.9       192    1,000       1.4       138 
Du Page, IL..............          34.0         591.4       0.6       216      967      -0.7       271 
Kane, IL.................          11.8         207.6       1.6       140      776       1.7       114 
Lake, IL.................          19.8         325.3       0.0       251    1,025      -0.6       267 
McHenry, IL..............           7.9          98.9       2.2       109      746       1.8       107 
McLean, IL...............           3.5          85.6       2.5        95      761      -4.4       314 
                                                                                                       
Madison, IL..............           5.8          93.8      -0.3       273      718       3.3        49 
Peoria, IL...............           4.6         100.9       1.2       164      800       1.4       138 
Rock Island, IL..........           3.4          79.4       1.6       140      908       0.6       209 
St. Clair, IL............           5.2          95.0       1.0       180      664       2.8        61 
Sangamon, IL.............           5.2         131.5       0.7       210      788       2.1        94 
Will, IL.................          11.9         173.7       4.3        35      773       0.5       221 
Winnebago, IL............           6.8         137.1      -1.0       302      707       1.0       170 
Allen, IN................           8.8         183.7       1.2       164      704      -0.8       275 
Elkhart, IN..............           4.8         127.8       3.1        70      730       2.1        94 
Hamilton, IN.............           6.8          98.0       4.8        22      823      -2.0       298 
                                                                                                       
Lake, IN.................          10.0         196.1       0.9       192      716      -2.3       301 
Marion, IN...............          23.5         585.3       0.1       241      839       0.8       189 
St. Joseph, IN...........           6.0         126.8      -0.1       260      689       0.6       209 
Vanderburgh, IN..........           4.8         110.1       1.5       145      682      -0.3       253 
Linn, IA.................           6.1         119.6       0.8       202      802       1.5       128 
Polk, IA.................          14.2         267.6       1.7       134      828       1.2       154 
Scott, IA................           5.1          89.7       2.3       104      684       0.1       239 
Johnson, KS..............          19.6         306.7       2.3       104      846       0.5       221 
Sedgwick, KS.............          12.0         247.9       0.8       202      746       2.6        68 
Shawnee, KS..............           4.8          94.4      -0.6       291      691       1.0       170 
                                                                                                       
Wyandotte, KS............           3.2          78.1       1.4       152      782      -0.5       264 
Fayette, KY..............           8.9         172.3       1.7       134      757       1.3       147 
Jefferson, KY............          22.1         429.5       0.8       202      798      -1.5       288 
Caddo, LA................           7.2         126.2       3.2        69      689       1.6       119 
Calcasieu, LA............           4.8          84.7       1.3       156      697       4.7        19 
East Baton Rouge, LA.....          13.5         262.2       5.6        10      711       3.5        42 
Jefferson, LA............          14.3         179.5     -17.0       313      812      16.2         3 
Lafayette, LA............           8.0         127.7       5.5        12      754       4.7        19 
Orleans, LA..............          12.6         149.5     -39.3       315      968      28.7         1 
Cumberland, ME...........          11.8         173.7      -0.3       273      749      -2.3       301 
                                                                                                       
Anne Arundel, MD.........          14.2         227.0       2.0       116      853       2.4        80 
Baltimore, MD............          21.3         378.9       1.5       145      872       1.3       147 
Frederick, MD............           5.8          92.5       0.3       233      779       1.6       119 
Harford, MD..............           5.5          82.7       2.2       109      742      -0.8       275 
Howard, MD...............           8.3         141.3       1.7       134      962       0.1       239 
Montgomery, MD...........          32.5         467.9       1.6       140    1,109       4.0        31 
Prince Georges, MD.......          15.5         318.2      -0.1       260      897       3.8        33 
Baltimore City, MD.......          14.0         353.0      -0.7       297      992       7.1         9 
Barnstable, MA...........           9.2          88.4       0.0       251      730       0.8       189 
Bristol, MA..............          15.5         223.1       0.1       241      737       1.4       138 
                                                                                                       
Essex, MA................          20.5         298.4       0.8       202      885       2.3        87 
Hampden, MA..............          14.2         201.3      -0.4       282      758       1.2       154 
Middlesex, MA............          47.3         803.7       1.3       156    1,158       1.0       170 
Norfolk, MA..............          21.6         323.7       0.9       192    1,013       0.6       209 
Plymouth, MA.............          13.7         178.6       0.7       210      804       0.2       235 
Suffolk, MA..............          21.7         572.6       1.3       156    1,412       3.7        36 
Worcester, MA............          20.5         322.1       0.1       241      831       0.5       221 
Genesee, MI..............           8.3         151.1       (7)         -      771      -3.3       309 
Ingham, MI...............           7.1         162.3       (7)         -      789       2.9        59 
Kalamazoo, MI............           5.5         117.8       1.0       180      741       0.8       189 
                                                                                                       
Kent, MI.................          14.5         346.1       1.8       128      770      -1.2       286 
Macomb, MI...............          18.1         332.1       0.4       225      890      -0.6       267 
Oakland, MI..............          40.5         721.7      -0.8       299    1,018       0.8       189 
Ottawa, MI...............           5.8         112.6       1.1       170      744       0.8       189 
Saginaw, MI..............           4.5          89.4      -1.5       311      747      -0.8       275 
Washtenaw, MI............           8.1         197.0      -1.1       304      915       1.1       162 
Wayne, MI................          34.0         793.6      -1.4       309      951       0.2       235 
Anoka, MN................           8.0         116.7       1.8       128      774      -4.7       316 
Dakota, MN...............          10.6         174.2       1.1       170      807      -1.8       295 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.9         850.6       1.3       156    1,013      -3.4       310 
                                                                                                       
Olmsted, MN..............           3.6          89.4       1.2       164      811       1.0       170 
Ramsey, MN...............          15.8         334.5       1.1       170      884      -3.5       311 
St. Louis, MN............           6.0          96.0       1.3       156      674      -2.3       301 
Stearns, MN..............           4.5          79.6       1.9       123      640      -3.2       308 
Harrison, MS.............           4.5          72.2     -20.2       314      680      18.9         2 
Hinds, MS................           6.5         128.6      -0.6       291      736       3.2        51 
Boone, MO................           4.4          81.7       3.0        77      626      -0.3       253 
Clay, MO.................           5.0          88.0       1.5       145      755       0.1       239 
Greene, MO...............           8.1         153.3       3.5        60      626       1.5       128 
Jackson, MO..............          18.8         367.3       0.7       210      839       2.6        68 
                                                                                                       
St. Charles, MO..........           7.7         119.1       2.0       116      706       1.1       162 
St. Louis, MO............          34.0         627.5       0.3       233      887       3.0        55 
St. Louis City, MO.......           8.1         223.2       0.5       222      897       1.6       119 
Douglas, NE..............          15.4         314.7       1.0       180      789       4.2        27 
Lancaster, NE............           7.8         154.5       0.9       192      662       1.1       162 
Clark, NV................          43.3         895.6       6.7         5      771       0.1       239 
Washoe, NV...............          13.5         217.6       2.9        79      782       1.7       114 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.3         200.3       1.0       180      949       1.9       103 
Rockingham, NH...........          10.9         138.6       1.1       170      860      -1.5       288 
Atlantic, NJ.............           6.7         145.5      -0.3       273      749       0.7       203 
                                                                                                       
Bergen, NJ...............          34.3         456.2       0.1       241    1,072       0.5       221 
Burlington, NJ...........          11.3         203.7       0.1       241      878       1.3       147 
Camden, NJ...............          13.5         212.9      -0.2       269      892       3.1        53 
Essex, NJ................          21.4         364.8       0.0       251    1,069      -1.7       293 
Gloucester, NJ...........           6.3         106.9       3.3        65      766       0.9       179 
Hudson, NJ...............          14.1         239.0      -0.2       269    1,068       0.8       189 
Mercer, NJ...............          10.9         227.6       2.4        99    1,085       1.9       103 
Middlesex, NJ............          20.9         396.8      -0.3       273    1,043      -0.6       267 
Monmouth, NJ.............          20.3         258.1       0.4       225      925       1.2       154 
Morris, NJ...............          17.9         288.0      -0.1       260    1,239       1.7       114 
                                                                                                       
Ocean, NJ................          11.7         146.9       2.1       113      745       0.7       203 
Passaic, NJ..............          12.5         180.2       0.9       192      893      -0.4       260 
Somerset, NJ.............          10.1         174.8       3.3        65    1,296       4.5        22 
Union, NJ................          14.8         229.5       (7)         -    1,078       0.7       203 
Bernalillo, NM...........          16.7         326.5       2.3       104      731       0.4       228 
Albany, NY...............           9.7         231.6      -0.5       288      826       0.6       209 
Bronx, NY................          15.7         224.5       1.7       134      780       0.9       179 
Broome, NY...............           4.5          96.1      -0.1       260      631       1.1       162 
Dutchess, NY.............           8.1         119.4      -0.9       300      823       1.6       119 
Erie, NY.................          23.3         461.3      -1.0       302      708      -0.7       271 
                                                                                                       
Kings, NY................          43.0         464.1       1.1       170      741       0.8       189 
Monroe, NY...............          17.7         390.5       0.8       202      785       0.8       189 
Nassau, NY...............          51.7         613.4       0.1       241      953       3.0        55 
New York, NY.............         114.8       2,310.7       2.0       116    1,684       4.3        25 
Oneida, NY...............           5.3         110.0       (7)         -      633       0.6       209 
Onondaga, NY.............          12.7         253.1       0.2       235      770       0.8       189 
Orange, NY...............           9.6         130.9      -0.1       260      708       0.9       179 
Queens, NY...............          41.1         487.0       1.0       180      822       0.7       203 
Richmond, NY.............           8.3          91.6      -0.3       273      738       0.4       228 
Rockland, NY.............           9.5         115.0      -0.1       260      873       1.3       147 
                                                                                                       
Suffolk, NY..............          48.8         617.5       0.2       235      894       1.5       128 
Westchester, NY..........          35.9         420.7      -0.3       273    1,173       5.4        14 
Buncombe, NC.............           7.2         110.6       0.4       225      658       1.2       154 
Catawba, NC..............           4.4          87.6      -0.6       291      638      -0.3       253 
Cumberland, NC...........           5.8         116.6       1.6       140      620       2.5        75 
Durham, NC...............           6.3         172.3       1.5       145    1,015      -1.2       286 
Forsyth, NC..............           8.6         184.0       2.2       109      754      -2.2       300 
Guilford, NC.............          13.7         275.5       1.1       170      743       0.4       228 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          28.2         533.2       2.5        95      932      -1.6       291 
New Hanover, NC..........           6.7          98.5       5.1        17      683       4.4        23 
                                                                                                       
Wake, NC.................          24.4         416.9       4.3        35      828       1.5       128 
Cass, ND.................           5.8          92.9       2.6        91      691       0.1       239 
Butler, OH...............           7.0         139.5       2.2       109      734      -0.9       280 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          38.0         756.8      -0.6       291      855      -0.6       267 
Franklin, OH.............          29.1         693.9       0.4       225      806       0.1       239 
Hamilton, OH.............          24.5         547.2      -0.1       260      895       2.8        61 
Lake, OH.................           6.9         100.8       0.4       225      692      -0.1       249 
Lorain, OH...............           6.2         101.8      -1.1       304      702      -1.8       295 
Lucas, OH................          10.9         229.2      -0.2       269      730      -2.0       298 
Mahoning, OH.............           6.4         107.3       0.7       210      624       0.2       235 
                                                                                                       
Montgomery, OH...........          13.1         280.8      -1.4       309      777      -0.5       264 
Stark, OH................           9.2         166.5      -1.8       312      649      -0.3       253 
Summit, OH...............          14.9         274.6       1.0       180      767      -2.5       305 
Trumbull, OH.............           4.8          84.3      -0.5       288      704      -5.8       318 
Oklahoma, OK.............          22.6         420.6       1.4       152      713       2.3        87 
Tulsa, OK................          18.7         339.4       3.9        52      744       1.6       119 
Clackamas, OR............          12.2         147.4       4.4        29      761       1.2       154 
Jackson, OR..............           6.5          85.5       3.9        52      602       1.2       154 
Lane, OR.................          10.7         149.7       4.4        29      656       2.2        90 
Marion, OR...............           9.0         134.6       3.4        61      638       1.4       138 
                                                                                                       
Multnomah, OR............          26.4         438.8       2.5        95      822       1.0       170 
Washington, OR...........          15.4         242.7       4.3        35      904      -0.8       275 
Allegheny, PA............          34.8         687.7       0.0       251      858       0.8       189 
Berks, PA................           9.0         167.4       1.3       156      725      -1.0       283 
Bucks, PA................          19.7         264.5       1.4       152      807       0.7       203 
Chester, PA..............          15.0         235.3       1.9       123    1,062       0.5       221 
Cumberland, PA...........           5.8         125.9      -0.6       291      754       0.1       239 
Dauphin, PA..............           7.1         177.9       0.8       202      785      -3.1       307 
Delaware, PA.............          13.7         211.7       0.0       251      892       2.2        90 
Erie, PA.................           7.1         127.9      -0.3       273      646       0.2       235 
                                                                                                       
Lackawanna, PA...........           5.7         101.3       0.9       192      648       1.7       114 
Lancaster, PA............          12.0         229.8       0.6       216      712       0.1       239 
Lehigh, PA...............           8.2         176.2       0.7       210      820      -0.7       271 
Luzerne, PA..............           7.9         142.9      -0.2       269      650       0.8       189 
Montgomery, PA...........          27.7         491.3       1.5       145    1,024       1.1       162 
Northampton, PA..........           6.2          95.2       1.5       145      723       0.4       228 
Philadelphia, PA.........          29.0         640.6       0.2       235      962      -0.9       280 
Washington, PA...........           5.3          75.9       0.0       251      700       1.0       170 
Westmoreland, PA.........           9.5         139.4       0.4       225      635      -1.9       297 
York, PA.................           8.8         175.5       2.0       116      781      10.8         4 
                                                                                                       
Kent, RI.................           5.7          83.5       0.0       251      735       1.4       138 
Providence, RI...........          18.2         289.9       0.1       241      813       3.4        46 
Charleston, SC...........          12.6         199.5       1.8       128      703       5.2        16 
Greenville, SC...........          12.7         229.8       1.0       180      725       0.8       189 
Horry, SC................           8.6         105.6       3.7        57      556      -0.2       251 
Lexington, SC............           5.9          90.2       2.0       116      628      -1.1       284 
Richland, SC.............           9.8         210.1       0.0       251      696      -0.3       253 
Spartanburg, SC..........           6.4         116.1      -1.1       304      700       1.3       147 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.1         113.0       3.1        70      678       2.4        80 
Davidson, TN.............          18.0         453.2       2.9        79      835       0.7       203 
                                                                                                       
Hamilton, TN.............           8.4         194.6       0.1       241      724       2.5        75 
Knox, TN.................          10.5         222.2       1.0       180      729       3.0        55 
Rutherford, TN...........           3.8          97.4       3.6        59      730      -2.4       304 
Shelby, TN...............          19.8         509.2       0.9       192      848       1.8       107 
Bell, TX.................           4.3          94.9       2.7        86      616       2.7        66 
Bexar, TX................          30.5         687.8       4.2        43      744       3.6        40 
Brazoria, TX.............           4.3          81.8       4.4        29      757       2.2        90 
Brazos, TX...............           3.6          83.4       4.4        29      588       2.6        68 
Cameron, TX..............           6.2         118.5       2.0       116      506       1.4       138 
Collin, TX...............          14.6         255.2       5.4        14      964       1.4       138 
                                                                                                       
Dallas, TX...............          66.5       1,457.5       2.8        81    1,033       3.4        46 
Denton, TX...............           9.4         154.3       5.3        16      725       2.0        99 
El Paso, TX..............          12.9         263.7       2.8        81      575      -0.3       253 
Fort Bend, TX............           7.3         114.1       4.8        22      854       2.2        90 
Galveston, TX............           4.9          89.2       3.1        70      723       4.9        17 
Harris, TX...............          91.1       1,919.8       3.8        55    1,014       3.8        33 
Hidalgo, TX..............           9.8         204.3       4.2        43      512       1.6       119 
Jefferson, TX............           5.8         120.5       4.3        35      815       5.4        14 
Lubbock, TX..............           6.5         121.3       2.1       113      619       2.5        75 
McLennan, TX.............           4.8         102.7       1.1       170      647       0.6       209 
                                                                                                       
Montgomery, TX...........           7.1         107.4       6.6         6      781       4.4        23 
Nueces, TX...............           8.1         148.3       2.0       116      687       1.5       128 
Potter, TX...............           3.7          71.9      -0.3       273      667       3.3        49 
Smith, TX................           5.0          91.7       2.8        81      723       3.6        40 
Tarrant, TX..............          34.9         730.8       2.8        81      827       1.6       119 
Travis, TX...............          25.7         538.9       3.7        57      935       0.6       209 
Webb, TX.................           4.5          84.3       5.7         9      548       1.9       103 
Williamson, TX...........           6.0         104.4       5.5        12      807      -8.6       319 
Davis, UT................           6.9          97.8       3.8        55      670       4.2        27 
Salt Lake, UT............          37.7         558.0       4.3        35      769       3.4        46 
                                                                                                       
Utah, UT.................          12.3         161.9       4.9        20      629       2.1        94 
Weber, UT................           5.6          89.5       1.0       180      607       2.4        80 
Chittenden, VT...........           5.8          95.8      -1.1       304      789       1.0       170 
Arlington, VA............           7.3         156.5      -0.1       260    1,345       4.2        27 
Chesterfield, VA.........           6.9         117.7       2.6        91      753       1.3       147 
Fairfax, VA..............          31.3         578.9       3.1        70    1,247       0.4       228 
Henrico, VA..............           8.6         174.2       0.4       225      887       2.8        61 
Loudoun, VA..............           7.2         124.5       4.1        48    1,059       2.7        66 
Prince William, VA.......           6.4         103.6       4.3        35      749       2.6        68 
Alexandria City, VA......           5.9          94.9       0.2       235    1,077       2.4        80 
                                                                                                       
Chesapeake City, VA......           5.2          97.6       2.6        91      660       2.6        68 
Newport News City, VA....           3.9          99.5       0.6       216      737      -0.4       260 
Norfolk City, VA.........           5.7         144.5      -0.9       300      807       3.5        42 
Richmond City, VA........           7.0         162.0       1.2       164      940       3.2        51 


Virginia Beach City, VA..          11.1         178.0       1.5       145      658       2.0        99 
Clark, WA................          11.0         128.8       4.9        20      734       2.5        75 
King, WA.................          76.3       1,145.1       3.4        61      985       1.1       162 
Kitsap, WA...............           6.4          83.7       2.4        99      733       6.4        13 
Pierce, WA...............          19.8         264.3       3.3        65      711       2.0        99 
Snohomish, WA............          16.5         227.5       4.8        22      815       3.8        33 
                                                                                                       
Spokane, WA..............          14.7         201.3       2.7        86      643       1.1       162 
Thurston, WA.............           6.4          95.1       3.1        70      709       1.9       103 
Whatcom, WA..............           6.6          79.9       3.9        52      613       2.5        75 
Yakima, WA...............           7.8          87.2      -0.5       288      552       2.0        99 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.1         108.2      -0.6       291      699       1.3       147 
Brown, WI................           6.8         149.2       0.9       192      732      -5.1       317 
Dane, WI.................          14.2         302.8       1.0       180      756      -1.7       293 
Milwaukee, WI............          21.9         497.8      -0.4       282      833       0.6       209 
Outagamie, WI............           5.0         101.2      -0.3       273      722       2.1        94 
Racine, WI...............           4.3          76.6      -0.4       282      783      -3.9       312 
                                                                                                       
Waukesha, WI.............          13.5         233.2       0.2       235      826       0.1       239 
Winnebago, WI............           3.9          88.5       0.6       216      776      -2.9       306 
San Juan, PR.............          14.5         330.1      -2.0       (8)      549       3.0       (8) 

  1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs.  These 322 U.S. counties comprise 70.8 percent of the total covered workers
in the U.S.
  2 Data are preliminary.
  3 Includes areas not officially designated as counties.  See Technical Note.
  4 Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic
county reclassifications.  See Technical Note.
  5 Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
  6 Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
  7 Data do not meet BLS or State agency disclosure standards.
  8 This county was not included in the U.S. rankings.





Table 2. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the ten largest counties,
fourth quarter 2005(2)
                                                                                                       
                                                                                                       
                                                                    Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                                           wage(4)     
                                              Establishments,                                          
                                               fourth quarter                                          
         County by NAICS supersector                2005                    Percent            Percent 
                                                (thousands)     December    change,  Average   change, 
                                                                  2005     December   weekly   fourth  
                                                              (thousands) 2004-05(3)   wage    quarter 
                                                                                             2004-05(3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
United States(5).............................       8,690.4     133,834.6       1.7     $825       1.5 
  Private industry...........................       8,413.4     112,417.0       1.9      829       1.6 
    Natural resources and mining.............         123.4       1,650.4       3.7      802       5.7 
    Construction.............................         857.7       7,396.7       5.4      892       3.2 
    Manufacturing............................         365.1      14,199.1      -0.6      991       0.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....       1,876.6      26,693.7       1.4      707       0.4 
    Information..............................         142.6       3,077.0      -0.6    1,246       0.5 
    Financial activities.....................         825.4       8,155.9       2.1    1,280       3.3 
    Professional and business services.......       1,390.3      17,256.9       3.5    1,039       2.1 
    Education and health services............         775.0      16,754.9       2.3      782       1.0 
    Leisure and hospitality..................         697.1      12,547.1       1.4      353       2.0 
    Other services...........................       1,121.1       4,336.1       0.9      525       1.4 
  Government.................................         277.1      21,417.6       0.7      807       1.5 
                                                                                                       
Los Angeles, CA..............................         378.7       4,196.5       1.8      966       0.3 
  Private industry...........................         374.9       3,609.5       1.9      967       0.4 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5          10.4      -2.0      911     -29.0 
    Construction.............................          13.5         154.5       8.7      961       2.6 
    Manufacturing............................          16.1         466.4      -2.3      966       0.9 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          53.1         833.5       2.5      781      -0.3 
    Information..............................           8.7         211.8      -2.6    1,765      -0.3 
    Financial activities.....................          23.7         248.8       2.8    1,412       3.2 
    Professional and business services.......          40.5         592.5       2.9    1,141       0.6 
    Education and health services............          27.4         466.7       0.3      885       1.7 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          26.1         385.1       2.0      799       1.9 
    Other services...........................         165.0         239.2       9.1      427      -3.0 
  Government.................................           3.8         587.1       0.9      964       0.3 
                                                                                                       
Cook, IL.....................................         132.3       2,547.4       0.9    1,000       1.4 
  Private industry...........................         131.1       2,234.1       1.1    1,009       1.7 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.1           1.4       9.4    1,091       1.9 
    Construction.............................          11.4          92.5      -1.0    1,238       4.0 
    Manufacturing............................           7.5         252.1      -1.9    1,029      -0.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          27.2         494.5       0.2      802      -0.1 
    Information..............................           2.5          60.2      -2.8    1,341       0.8 
    Financial activities.....................          14.8         220.2       1.5    1,639       3.8 
    Professional and business services.......          27.2         430.3       3.9    1,328       1.2 
    Education and health services............          13.0         361.1       1.1      849       1.8 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          11.1         221.9       2.5      406       5.2 
    Other services...........................          13.2          95.2      -0.5      696       1.6 
  Government.................................           1.2         313.3      -0.7      936      -0.3 
                                                                                                       
New York, NY.................................         114.8       2,310.7       2.0    1,684       4.3 
  Private industry...........................         114.6       1,860.6       2.3    1,840       4.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.0           0.1       0.0    4,005     175.4 
    Construction.............................           2.1          29.9       2.5    1,621       2.5 
    Manufacturing............................           3.1          41.7      -6.7    1,393      -2.4 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          21.3         253.5       1.8    1,234       4.6 
    Information..............................           4.1         131.4       1.2    1,947       4.5 
    Financial activities.....................          17.3         365.3       2.9    3,632       4.7 
    Professional and business services.......          22.6         459.4       1.9    1,910       4.8 
    Education and health services............           8.1         281.6       2.2      997       3.2 
    Leisure and hospitality..................          10.4         200.3       1.5      826      -0.8 
    Other services...........................          16.5          85.8       2.1      944       4.2 
  Government.................................           0.2         450.1       0.7    1,044       4.1 
                                                                                                       
Harris, TX...................................          91.1       1,919.8       3.8    1,014       3.8 
  Private industry...........................          90.7       1,669.7       4.0    1,040       4.2 
    Natural resources and mining.............           1.3          68.0       5.5    2,693      13.3 
    Construction.............................           6.2         135.5       3.9      974       6.4 
    Manufacturing............................           4.5         170.4       4.0    1,262       2.8 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          21.0         416.5       3.3      885       1.8 
    Information..............................           1.3          31.8      -4.3    1,191       3.9 
    Financial activities.....................           9.9         117.8       2.4    1,323       5.3 
    Professional and business services.......          17.7         309.8       7.2    1,213       3.6 
    Education and health services............           9.4         199.4       3.4      869      -1.4 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.8         160.9       1.7      365       2.2 
    Other services...........................          10.6          55.2       0.9      579       3.0 
  Government.................................           0.4         250.1       2.5      840       0.7 
                                                                                                       
Maricopa, AZ.................................          86.1       1,784.8       5.8      818       2.1 
  Private industry...........................          85.5       1,571.9       6.5      821       2.6 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           8.9      -1.7      704       6.2 
    Construction.............................           8.8         170.7      13.6      860       5.1 
    Manufacturing............................           3.3         134.5       2.6    1,103       3.4 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          18.9         370.4       5.6      765       1.2 
    Information..............................           1.4          32.9       0.8      939      -3.2 
    Financial activities.....................          10.4         150.0       7.3    1,087       6.3 
    Professional and business services.......          18.6         300.6       6.4      845       1.6 
    Education and health services............           8.3         180.9       5.1      893       1.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.1         171.0       5.4      383       3.2 
    Other services...........................           6.0          46.4       3.3      563       3.7 
  Government.................................           0.6         212.8       0.9      796      -1.6 
                                                                                                       
Orange, CA...................................          91.7       1,507.7       1.9      964       2.6 
  Private industry...........................          90.3       1,375.1       2.2      971       2.8 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.2           5.2       8.7      612      -6.6 
    Construction.............................           6.8         105.8      11.4    1,042       2.5 
    Manufacturing............................           5.7         181.8      -1.7    1,123       1.5 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          17.2         285.5       1.2      856      -0.2 
    Information..............................           1.4          32.1      -2.6    1,248       0.9 
    Financial activities.....................          10.5         144.7       2.9    1,641       8.0 
    Professional and business services.......          18.0         272.3       3.5    1,050       2.0 
    Education and health services............           9.4         132.2       1.6      894       1.6 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.8         166.5       1.5      379       4.4 
    Other services...........................          14.3          48.8       2.6      574       4.4 
  Government.................................           1.4         132.6      -0.8      899       1.1 
                                                                                                       
Dallas, TX...................................          66.5       1,457.5       2.8    1,033       3.4 
  Private industry...........................          66.1       1,296.2       2.9    1,053       3.3 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           7.5       7.1    3,177      14.3 
    Construction.............................           4.3          77.3       5.1      969       6.6 
    Manufacturing............................           3.3         147.7       1.7    1,101      -2.6 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          14.8         312.1       1.3    1,001       8.2 
    Information..............................           1.7          53.8      -0.2    1,311      -1.9 
    Financial activities.....................           8.4         138.6       2.4    1,368       3.4 
    Professional and business services.......          13.8         259.7       7.4    1,209       0.8 
    Education and health services............           6.2         134.9       1.5      980       2.9 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           5.1         122.3       0.2      473       2.6 
    Other services...........................           6.5          39.0       0.1      638       3.2 
  Government.................................           0.4         161.3       1.9      868       4.2 
                                                                                                       
San Diego, CA................................          88.9       1,315.8       0.9      890       1.8 
  Private industry...........................          87.5       1,096.1       1.1      881       1.5 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.8          11.2       3.2      567       4.0 
    Construction.............................           6.9          92.9       3.3      960       0.6 
    Manufacturing............................           3.4         103.2      -1.0    1,169       3.5 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          14.2         230.2       2.1      686      -1.0 
    Information..............................           1.3          37.3      -0.5    1,990       4.7 
    Financial activities.....................           9.4          84.5       1.2    1,211       5.4 
    Professional and business services.......          15.2         209.7      -0.6    1,081       0.7 
    Education and health services............           7.7         121.8       0.1      854       2.4 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           6.7         149.6       2.8      382       3.5 
    Other services...........................          21.8          55.6       1.5      474       0.2 
  Government.................................           1.4         219.7       0.2      931       2.6 
                                                                                                       
King, WA.....................................          76.3       1,145.1       3.4      985       1.1 
  Private industry...........................          75.8         993.2       4.0      994       0.8 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.4           2.9       7.0    1,200      -0.5 
    Construction.............................           6.5          63.1      11.8      970       1.7 
    Manufacturing............................           2.6         108.6       5.7    1,297       8.9 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          14.8         227.2       1.3      853      -0.2 
    Information..............................           1.6          70.8       2.6    1,775      -8.0 
    Financial activities.....................           6.5          76.1       0.8    1,236       7.3 
    Professional and business services.......          12.2         175.4       7.4    1,182      -1.3 
    Education and health services............           6.2         117.2       3.3      782       0.3 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           5.8         106.6       4.8      413      -0.7 
    Other services...........................          19.2          45.2      -1.3      534       5.3 
  Government.................................           0.5         152.0      -0.5      925       2.4 
                                                                                                       
Miami-Dade, FL...............................          84.4       1,022.1       2.1      833       1.5 
  Private industry...........................          84.1         869.1       2.5      817       2.6 
    Natural resources and mining.............           0.5           9.6      -7.9      482       6.9 
    Construction.............................           5.6          47.5      10.8      901       7.0 
    Manufacturing............................           2.7          48.3      -2.3      747       3.3 
    Trade, transportation, and utilities.....          23.6         253.0       1.4      761       2.0 
    Information..............................           1.8          22.9       (6)    1,190       (6)     
    Financial activities.....................           9.7          71.0       4.2    1,212       3.9 
    Professional and business services.......          16.8         149.3       5.9    1,018       0.9 
    Education and health services............           8.5         128.8       2.2      807       1.5 
    Leisure and hospitality..................           5.7          99.0       0.3      450       0.0 
    Other services...........................           7.7          35.7       1.4      482       0.6 
  Government.................................           0.3         153.0       0.1      927      -3.0 

  1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) programs.
  2 Data are preliminary.
  3 Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic
county reclassifications.  See Technical Note.
  4 Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
  5 Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
  6 Data do not meet BLS or State agency disclosure standards.





Table 3. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages in the largest county by
state, fourth quarter 2005(2)
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                Employment         Average weekly  
                                                                       wage(5)     
                          Establishments,                                          
                           fourth quarter                                          
        County(3)               2005                    Percent            Percent 
                            (thousands)     December    change,  Average   change, 
                                              2005     December   weekly   fourth  
                                          (thousands) 2004-05(4)   wage    quarter 
                                                                         2004-05(4)
                                                                                                                                                                      
United States(6).........       8,690.4     133,834.6       1.7     $825       1.5 
                                                                                   
Jefferson, AL............          18.9         375.8       0.8      836       0.5 
Anchorage Borough, AK....           7.9         144.0       1.1      837       0.8 
Maricopa, AZ.............          86.1       1,784.8       5.8      818       2.1 
Pulaski, AR..............          13.7         248.7       1.2      749      -1.1 
Los Angeles, CA..........         378.7       4,196.5       1.8      966       0.3 
Denver, CO...............          24.9         431.6       1.8    1,003       0.9 
Hartford, CT.............          24.6         493.5       1.3    1,033       1.5 
New Castle, DE...........          19.5         286.6       0.0    1,068       9.0 
Washington, DC...........          30.9         673.5       1.0    1,354       4.9 
Miami-Dade, FL...........          84.4       1,022.1       2.1      833       1.5 
                                                                                   
Fulton, GA...............          38.3         757.1       1.7    1,139       7.6 
Honolulu, HI.............          23.9         452.5       2.3      763       0.9 
Ada, ID..................          14.2         203.5       5.4      751       1.2 
Cook, IL.................         132.3       2,547.4       0.9    1,000       1.4 
Marion, IN...............          23.5         585.3       0.1      839       0.8 
Polk, IA.................          14.2         267.6       1.7      828       1.2 
Johnson, KS..............          19.6         306.7       2.3      846       0.5 
Jefferson, KY............          22.1         429.5       0.8      798      -1.5 
Orleans, LA..............          12.6         149.5     -39.3      968      28.7 
Cumberland, ME...........          11.8         173.7      -0.3      749      -2.3 
                                                                                   
Montgomery, MD...........          32.5         467.9       1.6    1,109       4.0 
Middlesex, MA............          47.3         803.7       1.3    1,158       1.0 
Wayne, MI................          34.0         793.6      -1.4      951       0.2 
Hennepin, MN.............          42.9         850.6       1.3    1,013      -3.4 
Hinds, MS................           6.5         128.6      -0.6      736       3.2 
St. Louis, MO............          34.0         627.5       0.3      887       3.0 
Yellowstone, MT..........           5.4          73.8       2.4      650       1.9 
Douglas, NE..............          15.4         314.7       1.0      789       4.2 
Clark, NV................          43.3         895.6       6.7      771       0.1 
Hillsborough, NH.........          12.3         200.3       1.0      949       1.9 
                                                                                   
Bergen, NJ...............          34.3         456.2       0.1    1,072       0.5 
Bernalillo, NM...........          16.7         326.5       2.3      731       0.4 
New York, NY.............         114.8       2,310.7       2.0    1,684       4.3 
Mecklenburg, NC..........          28.2         533.2       2.5      932      -1.6 
Cass, ND.................           5.8          92.9       2.6      691       0.1 
Cuyahoga, OH.............          38.0         756.8      -0.6      855      -0.6 
Oklahoma, OK.............          22.6         420.6       1.4      713       2.3 
Multnomah, OR............          26.4         438.8       2.5      822       1.0 
Allegheny, PA............          34.8         687.7       0.0      858       0.8 
Providence, RI...........          18.2         289.9       0.1      813       3.4 
                                                                                   
Greenville, SC...........          12.7         229.8       1.0      725       0.8 
Minnehaha, SD............           6.1         113.0       3.1      678       2.4 
Shelby, TN...............          19.8         509.2       0.9      848       1.8 
Harris, TX...............          91.1       1,919.8       3.8    1,014       3.8 
Salt Lake, UT............          37.7         558.0       4.3      769       3.4 
Chittenden, VT...........           5.8          95.8      -1.1      789       1.0 
Fairfax, VA..............          31.3         578.9       3.1    1,247       0.4 
King, WA.................          76.3       1,145.1       3.4      985       1.1 
Kanawha, WV..............           6.1         108.2      -0.6      699       1.3 
Milwaukee, WI............          21.9         497.8      -0.4      833       0.6 
                                                                                   
Laramie, WY..............           3.0          41.3       4.0      647       2.7 
                                                                                   
San Juan, PR.............          14.5         330.1      -2.0      549       3.0 
St. Thomas, VI...........           1.8          23.5       1.6      625      -1.3 

  1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
  2 Data are preliminary.
  3 Includes areas not officially designated as counties.  See Technical Note.
  4 Percent changes were computed from quarterly employment and pay data adjusted
for noneconomic county reclassifications.  See Technical Note.
  5 Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
  6 Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin
Islands.





Table 4. Covered(1) establishments, employment, and wages by state, 
fourth quarter 2005(2)
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                Employment        Average weekly 
                                                                      wage(3)    
                          Establishments,                                        
                           fourth quarter                                        
          State                 2005                    Percent           Percent
                            (thousands)     December    change,  Average  change,
                                              2005     December   weekly  fourth 
                                          (thousands)   2004-05    wage   quarter
                                                                          2004-05
                                                                                                                                                                  
United States(4).........       8,690.4     133,834.6       1.7     $825      1.5
                                                                                 
Alabama..................         117.9       1,929.6       2.5      706      1.6
Alaska...................          20.7         291.8       1.3      793      1.5
Arizona..................         139.3       2,596.6       5.4      769      2.5
Arkansas.................          78.3       1,168.4       1.8      633      1.6
California...............       1,261.8      15,515.7       2.4      944      1.6
Colorado.................         170.1       2,234.8       2.4      835      0.5
Connecticut..............         110.8       1,671.0       0.6    1,080      2.2
Delaware.................          29.6         422.9       1.1      937      6.2
District of Columbia.....          30.9         673.5       1.0    1,354      4.9
Florida..................         573.6       7,999.0       3.5      752      1.9
                                                                                 
Georgia..................         258.9       4,007.3       2.5      794      2.7
Hawaii...................          36.8         619.6       2.7      736      1.8
Idaho....................          53.1         625.5       4.6      628      1.6
Illinois.................         342.9       5,830.1       1.0      887      1.1
Indiana..................         154.2       2,906.4       0.8      705     -0.1
Iowa.....................          91.8       1,465.0       1.6      672      0.7
Kansas...................          84.1       1,325.6       0.7      680      1.6
Kentucky.................         107.3       1,783.6       1.2      682      0.1
Louisiana................         120.9       1,783.8      -5.5      710      7.4
Maine....................          48.7         598.2      -0.6      662      0.3
                                                                                 
Maryland.................         160.1       2,540.2       1.3      910      3.5
Massachusetts............         208.4       3,206.4       0.9    1,026      2.0
Michigan.................         255.9       4,320.9      -0.6      835      0.0
Minnesota................         168.5       2,687.5       1.8      808     -3.2
Mississippi..............          68.2       1,114.5      -0.2      614      4.6
Missouri.................         171.6       2,700.9       1.2      723      2.0
Montana..................          40.6         418.9       2.4      591      3.3
Nebraska.................          57.4         900.2       0.9      663      2.3
Nevada...................          68.8       1,253.2       5.7      775      0.9
New Hampshire............          48.1         630.8       1.0      848      1.1
                                                                                 
New Jersey...............         274.0       3,988.9       0.9    1,011      0.8
New Mexico...............          51.1         793.2       2.5      658      2.0
New York.................         564.7       8,531.8       0.8    1,048      2.9
North Carolina...........         236.1       3,916.7       1.7      718      0.4
North Dakota.............          25.1         332.7       2.0      614      2.3
Ohio.....................         289.9       5,359.4       0.2      751     -0.4
Oklahoma.................          94.9       1,502.5       2.8      642      2.4
Oregon...................         125.6       1,686.0       3.8      728      1.3
Pennsylvania.............         332.4       5,619.5       0.8      801      0.6
Rhode Island.............          35.7         483.6       0.3      787      2.7
                                                                                 
South Carolina...........         120.9       1,830.0       1.0      666      1.7
South Dakota.............          29.4         378.6       2.0      589      1.4
Tennessee................         133.4       2,742.6       1.5      736      1.2
Texas....................         525.4       9,821.7       3.5      823      3.0
Utah.....................          84.0       1,149.3       4.4      687      3.5
Vermont..................          24.7         308.1       1.1      684      1.0
Virginia.................         216.0       3,637.5       1.9      855      1.7
Washington...............         213.4       2,794.2       3.0      804      1.8
West Virginia............          48.0         704.3       1.2      627      1.1
Wisconsin................         163.1       2,773.4       0.6      713     -0.8
                                                                                 
Wyoming..................          23.2         258.4       4.1      678      5.8
                                                                                 
Puerto Rico..............          57.8       1,093.7      -0.5      474      1.7
Virgin Islands...........           3.5          44.9       2.0      664      0.5

  1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
  2 Data are preliminary.
  3 Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
  4 Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the
Virgin Islands.