From June 2020 to June 2021, employment increased in 339 of the 343 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In June 2021, national employment increased to 144.0 million, a 6.7-percent increase over the year, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Atlantic, NJ, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment with a gain of 36.8 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for June 2021, and average weekly wage data are presented for second quarter 2021.

Among the 343 largest counties, 302 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the second quarter of 2021, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,241, a 4.5-percent increase over the year. San Francisco, CA, had the largest second quarter over-the-year wage gain at 29.7 percent.  Read more and see tables here.