From June 2009 to June 2010, employment declined in 192 of the 326 largest U.S. counties according to preliminary data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Yolo, Calif., and Marion, Fla., posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss of 3.7 percent each over the year, compared with a national job decrease of 0.2 percent. Within Yolo, the largest employment decline occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities, which lost 843 jobs over the year (-4.4 percent). In Marion, financial activities had the largest over-the-year decrease in employment, shedding 1,495 jobs (-27.1 percent). Elkhart, Ind., experienced the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S. with a gain of 9.3 percent.

The U.S. average weekly wage increased over the year by 3.0 percent to $865 in the second quarter of 2010. Among the large counties in the U.S., Santa Clara, Calif., had the largest over-the-year increase in average weekly wages in the second quarter of 2010, with a gain of 10.6 percent. Within Santa Clara, manufacturing had the largest impact on the county’s over-the-year increase in average weekly wages. Fort Bend, Texas, experienced the largest decline in average weekly wages with a loss of 1.7 percent over the year. County employment and wage data are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program.

Large County Employment

In June 2010, national employment, as measured by the QCEW program, was 129.4 million, down by 0.2 percent from June 2009. The 326 U.S. counties with 75,000 or more employees accounted for 70.7 percent of total U.S. employment and 71.5 percent of total wages. These 326 counties had a net job decline of 350,897 over the year, accounting for 126.9 percent of the overall U.S. employment decrease.

Yolo, Calif., and Marion, Fla., both had the largest percentage decline in employment among the largest U.S. counties. The top five counties with the greatest employment level declines (Los Angeles, Calif.; Maricopa, Ariz.; Cook, Ill.; Clark, Nev.; and Sacramento, Calif.) had a combined over-the-year loss of 142,500, or 51.1 percent of the employment decline for the U.S.

Employment rose in 120 of the large counties from June 2009 to June 2010. Elkhart, Ind., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (9.3 percent) in the nation. Manufacturing was the largest contributor to the increase in employment. In Elkhart, employment declines exceeded 10 percent from third quarter of 2008 through third quarter of 2009. Employment rebounded in December 2009, and strong job growth continued through this quarter. Kings, N.Y., experienced the second largest employment increase, followed by Allen, Ind.; Ottawa, Mich.; Macomb, Mich.; Arlington, Va.; and Benton, Wash.

Large County Average Weekly Wages

Average weekly wages for the nation increased by 3.0 percent over the year in the second quarter of 2010. Among the 326 largest counties, 301 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Santa Clara, Calif., had the largest wage gain among the largest U.S. counties. Of the 326 largest counties, 16 experienced declines in average weekly wages.

Fort Bend, Texas, led the nation in average weekly wage decline with a loss of 1.7 percent over the year. Large declines in employment (-10.0 percent) and wages (-14.0 percent) within construction had contributed significantly to the county’s overall average weekly wage loss. Baltimore City, Md., had the second largest overall decline among the counties, followed by St. Charles, Mo.; Anoka, Minn.; and Calcasieu,La.

Ten Largest U.S. Counties

Eight of the 10 largest counties experienced over-the-year percent declines in employment in June 2010. Los Angeles, Calif., experienced the largest decline in employment among the 10 largest counties with a 1.6 percent decrease. Within Los Angeles, other services had the largest over-the-year decline among all private industry groups with a loss of 20,933 workers (-8.0 percent). New York, N.Y., experienced the largest increase in employment among the 10 largest counties.

All of the 10 largest U.S. counties saw an over-the-year increase in average weekly wages. New York, N.Y., experienced the largest increase in average weekly wages among the 10 largest counties and the nation with a gain of 9.0 percent. Orange, Calif., had the smallest wage increase among the 10 largest counties.