Employment rose in 6 of the 9 largest counties in Virginia with published data from September 2023 to September 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall-Bovee noted that Loudoun County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment at 3.7 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Virginia, September 2024

County	Percent change, September 2024
Loudoun	3.7
Prince William	2.4
Norfolk City	1.5
Richmond City	1.4
Fairfax	1.1
Chesapeake City	0.4
Newport News City	0.0
Alexandria City	-0.2
Virginia Beach City	-0.6

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 264 of the 369 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.9 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-2.7 percent).

Among the 12 largest counties in Virginia, employment was highest in Fairfax County (638,900) in September 2024. Within Fairfax County’s private industry, professional, scientific, and technical services accounted for the largest employment. Together, the 12 largest Virginia counties accounted for 55.2 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 121 counties in Virginia with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 116 of the 121 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

All 10 large Virginia counties with published data reported average weekly wage gains from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. (See chart 2.) Norfolk City had the largest gain (+5.7 percent), followed by Alexandria City (+5.3 percent) and Virginia Beach City (+5.0 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Virginia’s other seven large counties with published data ranged from 4.8 percent to 2.7 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Virginia, third quarter 2024

County	Percent change, third quarter 2024
Norfolk City	5.7
Alexandria City	5.3
Virginia Beach City	5.0
Richmond City	4.8
Prince William	4.6
Fairfax	4.3
Henrico	4.3
Chesapeake City	4.0
Loudoun	3.9
Newport News City	2.7

Nationwide, wages increased by 4.5 percent over the year. Among the 365 largest counties in the United States with published data, 363 had over-the-year wage increases. Benton, AR, had the largest percentage wage increase (+15.5 percent). Weld, CO, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-1.3 percent).

Weekly wages in 6 of the 12 largest counties in Virginia were above the national average of $1,394 in the third quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages in three of these counties ranked among the top 25 nationwide: Arlington ($2,235, 8^th), Fairfax ($2,021, 10^th), and Alexandria City ($1,715, 22^nd).

Among the 369 largest U.S. counties, 94 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the third quarter of 2024. San Mateo, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,557). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($819).

Among the 121 smaller counties in Virginia—those with employment below 75,000—5 reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Goochland County ($2,039) reported the highest average weekly wage among small counties. Grayson County ($756) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 133 counties in Virginia were considered, 29 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 33 registered wages from $900 to $999, 22 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 19 reported wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 30 had wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1.)