Arkansas first quarter average weekly wage growth up 4%, below U.S. average

Average weekly wages in Arkansas rose 4% in the first quarter of 2024, below U.S. growth of 4.2%, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Wednesday (Aug. 21). Estimated quarterly job growth in the state was 1.4%, above U.S. growth of 1.3%.

The BLS report covered wage growth, employment, and the estimated number of business establishments in the first quarter of 2024 among the nation’s largest 369 counties and all states.

Arkansas has three counties – Benton, Pulaski and Washington – among the 369 largest U.S. counties. Following are the average wages, estimated jobs, and business establishment numbers in the three counties and in Arkansas.

Average weekly wages, first quarter 2024
Benton County: $1,998, up 6.2% compared with the same period in 2023
Pulaski County: $1,253, up 4.2%
Washington County: $1,110, down 4.1%
Arkansas: $1,171, up 4%

Number of estimated jobs in March 2024
Pulaski County: 258,700, up 0.6% compared with the same period in 2023
Benton County: 142,900, up 2.3%
Washington County: 120,100, up 2.6%
Arkansas: 1.292 million, up 1.4%

Estimated number of business establishments, first quarter 2024
Pulaski County: 14,400
Benton County: 8,400
Washington County: 7,000
Arkansas: 104,600

STATE, NATIONAL NUMBERS
Following are first quarter average weekly wage growth numbers in contiguous states.
Louisiana: $1,195, up 4% compared with the same period in 2023
Mississippi: $980, up 3.6%
Missouri: $1,269, up 3.7%
Oklahoma: $1,152, up 4%
Tennessee: $1,311, up 3.5%
Texas: $1,540, up 4.1%

From March 2023 to March 2024, employment increased in 300 of the 369 largest U.S. counties, according to the BLS report. In March 2024, national employment increased to 153.6 million, up 1.3% as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Monterey, Calif., and St. Johns, Fla., had the largest over-the-year job gains, up 4.8% each.

Within Monterey, the largest job gain was in natural resources and mining, which rose by 6,618 (19.9%). Within St. Johns, the largest employment increase was in education and health services, which rose by 1,101 (8.1%).

Elkhart, Ind., had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (down 4.9%). Within Elkhart, the largest employment decrease occurred in manufacturing, which fell by 6,004, or down 8.9%.

Santa Clara, Calif., had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in average weekly wages at 14.6%. Within Santa Clara, an average weekly wage gain of $1,792, or 37.7%, in manufacturing made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages.

Saginaw, Mich., had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in average weekly wages with a 3.4% drop. Within Saginaw, an average weekly wage loss of $466, or down 30.5%, in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s decrease.