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White House: Made in America - Manufacturing, Private Hiring Power Explosive August Jobs Report
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The White House issued the following news on Sept. 4, 2026:
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Made in America: Manufacturing, Private Hiring Power Explosive August Jobs Report
"America added 162,000 jobs in August -- triple economists' expectations. The private sector has now created over one million jobs under President Trump, whose reindustrialization agenda continues to drive manufacturing and factory construction job growth. America is in the middle of a historic investment boom, and the August jobs report is the latest data point showing how Americans are benefitting from the Trump administration's
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 -- The White House issued the following news on Sept. 4, 2026:
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Made in America: Manufacturing, Private Hiring Power Explosive August Jobs Report
"America added 162,000 jobs in August -- triple economists' expectations. The private sector has now created over one million jobs under President Trump, whose reindustrialization agenda continues to drive manufacturing and factory construction job growth. America is in the middle of a historic investment boom, and the August jobs report is the latest data point showing how Americans are benefitting from the Trump administration'spro-growth policies. The best is yet to come with even more job, wage, and economic growth in store for everyday Americans."
-- White House spokesman Kush Desai
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President Donald J. Trump's agenda is working -- and the latest jobs report proves it. Factories are hiring, construction is booming, wages are rising, and the private sector -- not government -- is driving the boom.
Here's what you need to know:
* Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August -- nearly triple economists' expectations (again) -- for the second-largest monthly gain of President Trump's second term.
* Main Street Wins: More than one million private-sector jobs have been created in President Trump's second term, while federal employment remains at its lowest share of the workforce on record.
* Factory Comeback: After years of Biden-era decline, manufacturers added 16,000 jobs last month -- the strongest monthly gain in three years -- and 58,000 jobs this year, powered by huge demand for pharmaceutical and defense production, data center construction, and semiconductor plants.
* Construction Boom: Construction added 22,000 jobs last month, with factory construction jobs up nearly 100,000 in President Trump's second term as companies make products in America again.
* Opportunity Rising: Labor force participation increased at its strongest level in almost a year last month.College graduate unemployment remains a rock-solid 2.7%, while black unemployment posted its second monthly decline.
* Paychecks Climbing: Private-sector workers saw average weekly earnings rise last month -- up 3.7% over the year.
Here's what they're saying:
* National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett: "It's a really blockbuster number... Tariffs are making people onshore activity; the expensing is making people want to invest like crazy, and that's creating construction jobs and also beginning to show up in factory jobs."
* Council of Economic Advisers Chair Chris Phelan: "The manufacturing boom -- the non-residential construction boom -- is real, and it's showing up in the data. It's showing up in the data for capital expenditures. It's showing up in the jobs data."
* Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long: "What a 'wow' jobs report."
* Fitch Ratings Head of U.S. Economics Olu Sonola: "This is an unequivocally strong report..."
* CNBC's Rick Santelli: "Manufacturing jobs -- the renaissance continues."
* Bloomberg's Enda Curran: "Woah, that is a huge number."
* Economist E.J. Antoni: "YUGE beat on jobs in Aug, not only b/c payrolls jumped 217k, but also b/c the number of folks employed roared higher by 569k and those not in the labor force dipped more than half a million; people flooded back into the labor market and were able to get jobs"
* Economist Steve Moore: "It's blue-collar jobs -- construction and manufacturing. We're building things again in America."
* Fwdbonds Chief Economist Chris Rupkey: "Net, net, the labor market is alive and well and generating thousands of new jobs to help keep economic growth squarely in the plus column."
* Economist Mohamed A. El-Erian: "The latest US jobs report came in significantly stronger than expected across both sides of the labor market: demand and supply... Together, these indicators point to a US labor market that remains robust with firm demand and is stabilization on the supply side."
* KPMG Chief Economist Diane Swonk: "This is a summer heat wave."
* Bloomberg Senior Editor Chris Anstey: "Oooh a big blowout number for payrolls!"
* Carson Group Chief Macro Strategist Sonu Varghese: "August payrolls were strong across the board, including in cyclical sectors like construction and manufacturing."
* CNN Senior Reporter Matt Egan: "The US economy adding 162,000 jobs last month -- that more than doubled the consensus forecast... In fact, this most jobs that the economy has added in a month since March."
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Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/09/made-in-america-manufacturing-private-hiring-power-explosive-august-jobs-report/
BLS Western Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in Oregon First Quarter 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Oregon First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Western Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Oregon employment decreased 1.3 percent over the year to 1,952,300 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Washington County (-2.8
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Oregon First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Western Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 6 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Oregon employment decreased 1.3 percent over the year to 1,952,300 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that Washington County (-2.8percent) had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment. (See chart 1.)
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oregon, March 2026
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Multnomah County (484,400) had the highest employment level in Oregon in March 2026. Together, the seven largest counties accounted for 75.0 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Average weekly wage gains in 6 of the 7 large counties in Oregon were above the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Washington had the largest gain (+9.2 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other six large Oregon counties ranged from 5.8 percent to 3.1 percent.
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oregon, first quarter 2026
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Weekly wages in 2 of the 7 largest counties in Oregon were above the national average of $1,654: Washington ($1,882) and Multnomah ($1,712). Average weekly wages among the other five large counties ranged from $1,462 in Clackamas to $1,204 in Jackson.
Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.6 percent over the year to $1,481. Oregon ranked 23rd in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 8th in wage growth.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 29 smaller counties in Oregon, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Morrow reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,420) among small counties. Wheeler reported the lowest average weekly wage ($825) in the state.
Among all 36 Oregon counties, 6 reported average weekly wages less than $1,025, 16 had wages from $1,025 to $1,149, 5 had wages from $1,150 to $1,274, and 9 had average weekly wages of $1,275 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Oregon, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
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County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest counties in Oregon, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Oregon, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_oregon_20260904.htm
BLS Southwest Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in New Mexico First Quarter 2026
DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in New Mexico First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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New Mexico employment decreased 0.4 percent over the year to 867,400 in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Employment declined 0.8 percent in Bernalillo County and rose 0.9 percent in Dona Ana County from March 2025 to March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See chart 1.) Regional Commissioner James B.
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DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in New Mexico First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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New Mexico employment decreased 0.4 percent over the year to 867,400 in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Employment declined 0.8 percent in Bernalillo County and rose 0.9 percent in Dona Ana County from March 2025 to March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See chart 1.) Regional Commissioner James B.Howard, Jr., noted that the rate of employment change in Bernalillo ranked 268th and in Dona Ana ranked 65th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in New Mexico, March 2026
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Employment was 343,800 in Bernalillo and 81,200 in Dona Ana in March 2026. Together these two large counties accounted for 49.0 percent of total employment in New Mexico. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
The average weekly wage in Dona Ana increased 4.9 percent over the year (ranked 74th nationally) to $1,034 (369th). The average wage in Bernalillo increased 2.2 percent (283rd) to $1,298 (239th). (See chart 2.) The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year.
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2026
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Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 31 smaller counties in New Mexico, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 30 of the 31 smaller counties were below the national average. Los Alamos reported the highest average weekly wage ($2,318) in the state. Catron reported the lowest average weekly wage ($751).
Among all 33 New Mexico counties, 6 reported average weekly wages of $874 and lower, 12 had wages from $875 to $974, 5 had wages from $975 to $1,074, 4 had wages from $1,075 to $1,174, and 6 had average weekly wages of $1,175 and higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in New Mexico, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
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County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the two largest counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in New Mexico, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_newmexico_20260904.htm
BLS Southwest Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in Arkansas First Quarter 2026
DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Arkansas First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 2 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Arkansas employment decreased 0.1 percent over the year to 1,305,200 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that employment decreased
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DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Arkansas First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 2 of the 3 largest counties in Arkansas from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Arkansas employment decreased 0.1 percent over the year to 1,305,200 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that employment decreasedin Pulaski County (-1.1 percent) and Washington County (-0.5 percent). (See chart 1.)
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Arkansas, March 2026
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Pulaski (261,100) had the highest employment level in Arkansas in March 2026. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 40.9 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Average weekly wage gains in 2 of the 3 large counties in Arkansas were above the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Benton had the largest gain (+8.8 percent). Wages also increased for Pulaski (+5.1 percent) and Washington (+3.2 percent).
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2026
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Benton ($2,489) had a weekly wage above the national average of $1,654. Average weekly wages among the other two large counties were $1,348 in Pulaski and $1,162 in Washington.
Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.6 percent over the year to $1,291. Arkansas ranked 39th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 8th in wage growth.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 72 smaller counties in Arkansas, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Calhoun reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,636) among small counties. Montgomery reported the lowest average weekly wage ($677) in the state.
Among all 75 Arkansas counties, 10 reported average weekly wages of $799 and lower, 19 had wages from $800 to $874, 20 had wages from $875 to $949, 11 had wages from $950 to $1,024, and 15 had average weekly wages of $1,025 and higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Arkansas, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
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County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the three largest counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Arkansas, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_arkansas_20260904.htm
BLS Northeast Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts First Quarter 2026
NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Northeast Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in all nine of the largest counties in Massachusetts from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Massachusetts employment decreased 0.9 percent over the year to 3,552,900 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that Plymouth County
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NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Northeast Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in all nine of the largest counties in Massachusetts from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Massachusetts employment decreased 0.9 percent over the year to 3,552,900 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that Plymouth County(-2.0 percent) had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment. (See chart 1.)
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Massachusetts, March 2026
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Middlesex County (880,700) had the highest employment level in Massachusetts in March 2026. Together, the nine largest counties accounted for 92.6 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
All nine large Massachusetts counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Suffolk had the largest gain (+7.5 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other eight large Massachusetts counties ranged from 4.1 percent to 0.6 percent.
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Massachusetts, first quarter 2026
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Weekly wages in 3 of the 9 largest counties in Massachusetts were above the national average of $1,654: Suffolk ($3,340), Middlesex ($2,568), and Norfolk ($1,819). Average weekly wages among the other six large counties ranged from $1,613 in Essex to $1,302 in Hampden.
Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.8 percent over the year to $2,201. Massachusetts ranked 3rd in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 6th in wage growth.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the five smaller counties in Massachusetts, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Nantucket reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,626) among small counties. Franklin reported the lowest average weekly wage ($1,085) in the state.
Among all 14 Massachusetts counties, 4 reported average weekly wages less than $1,325, 3 had wages from $1,325 to $1,474, 3 had wages from $1,475 to $1,624, and 4 had average weekly wages of $1,625 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Massachusetts, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
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County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the nine largest counties in Massachusetts, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Massachusetts, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/northeast/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_massachusetts_20260904.htm
BLS Mountain-Plains Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in Missouri First Quarter 2026
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Missouri First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Mountain-Plains Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment rose in 3 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Missouri employment increased 0.1 percent over the year to 2,890,500 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that Greene County
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Missouri First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Mountain-Plains Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment rose in 3 of the 7 largest counties in Missouri from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Missouri employment increased 0.1 percent over the year to 2,890,500 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner James B. Howard, Jr., noted that Greene County(+0.6 percent) had the largest over-the-year increase in employment. (See chart 1.)
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Missouri, March 2026
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St. Louis County (584,600) had the highest employment level in Missouri in March 2026. Together, the seven largest counties accounted for 59.6 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Average weekly wage changes in 5 of the 7 large counties in Missouri were below the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Boone had the largest gain (+4.5 percent). Over-the-year wage changes among the other six large Missouri counties ranged from 4.3 percent to -0.2 percent.
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Missouri, first quarter 2026
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St. Louis City ($1,761) had a weekly wage above the national average of $1,654. Average weekly wages among the other six large counties ranged from $1,654 in St. Louis County to $1,129 in Greene County.
Statewide, average weekly wages increased 3.4 percent over the year to $1,354. Missouri ranked 31st in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 32nd in wage growth.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 108 smaller counties in Missouri, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Ste. Genevieve reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,305) among small counties. Ripley reported the lowest average weekly wage ($629) in the state.
Among all 115 Missouri counties, 23 reported average weekly wages of $799 and lower, 21 had wages from $800 to $874, 30 had wages from $875 to $949, 20 had wages from $950 to $1,024, and 21 had average weekly wages of $1,025 and higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Missouri, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
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County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the seven largest counties in Missouri, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Missouri, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_missouri_20260904.htm
BLS Midwest Region Issues Report on County Employment and Wages in Indiana First Quarter 2026
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Indiana First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Midwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 3 of the 9 largest counties in Indiana from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Indiana employment decreased 0.1 percent over the year to 3,160,700 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Marion
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- County Employment and Wages in Indiana First Quarter 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Midwest Region - Sept. 4, 2026
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Employment declined in 3 of the 9 largest counties in Indiana from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Indiana employment decreased 0.1 percent over the year to 3,160,700 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Marionand Vanderburgh Counties (-0.5 percent each) had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment. (See chart 1.)
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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Indiana, March 2026
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Marion County (610,000) had the highest employment level in Indiana in March 2026. Together, the nine largest counties accounted for 53.8 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2025.)
Large county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Average weekly wage gains in 5 of the 9 large counties in Indiana were below the national average of 3.9 percent. (See chart 2.) Tippecanoe had the largest gain (+5.9 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other eight large Indiana counties ranged from 5.4 percent to 1.2 percent.
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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Indiana, first quarter 2026
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Marion ($1,789) had a weekly wage above the national average of $1,654. Average weekly wages among the other eight large counties ranged from $1,560 in Hamilton to $1,115 in Hendricks.
Statewide, average weekly wages increased 2.7 percent over the year to $1,356. Indiana ranked 30th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 44th in wage growth.
Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter 2026
Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 83 smaller counties in Indiana, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2025. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 81 of the 83 smaller counties were below the national average. Martin reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,889) in the state. Ohio reported the lowest average weekly wage ($780).
Among all 92 Indiana counties, 10 reported average weekly wages less than $925, 29 had wages from $925 to $1,024, 22 had wages from $1,025 to $1,124, 10 had wages from $1,125 to $1,224, and 21 had average weekly wages of $1,225 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)
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Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in Indiana, first quarter 2026
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Additional statistics and other information
QCEW data for all states have been included in this release in table 3.
Nationwide coverage of the largest counties is published in the County Employment and Wages news release (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htm). Additional information about quarterly employment and wages data is available in the news release Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/cew/news-release-technical-note.htm) and from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website (https://www.bls.gov/cew).
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The County Employment and Wages release for the second quarter 2026 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
County Changes for the 2026 County Employment and Wages News Releases
Counties with annual average employment of 75,000 or more in 2025 are included in this release and will be included in future 2026 releases. Five counties have been added to the publication tables: Kenton, KY; Union, NC; Licking, OH; Gregg, TX; and Kenosha, WI. One county has been dropped from the publication tables: Wood, OH.
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Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the nine largest counties in Indiana, first quarter 2026
Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in Indiana, first quarter 2026
Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, first quarter 2026
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/news-release/2026/countyemploymentandwages_indiana_20260904.htm
