Arkansas weekly wage growth up 4.1%, below U.S. average

Benton County continues to have the highest average weekly wage in Arkansas, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. Arkansas’ average weekly wage is almost 30% below the U.S. average through the second quarter of 2024.

The BLS report posted Wednesday (Nov. 20) provides info about wage growth, employment, and the estimated number of business establishments in the second quarter of 2024 among the nation’s largest 369 counties and all states.

Only Mississippi, with an average weekly wage of $960, was lower than the Arkansas average of $1,074. South Dakota’s average also was $1,074.

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, second quarter 2024
Benton County: $1,307, up 3.6% compared with the same period in 2023
Pulaski County: $1,186 (The BLS said data for the county did “not meet BLS or state agency disclosure or data quality standards” to provide a a reliable percentage change.)
Washington County: $1,084, up 3.4%
Arkansas: $1,074, up 4.1%

• Number of estimated jobs in June 2024
Pulaski County: 262,400, up 0.9% compared with the same period in 2023
Benton County: 144,900, up 1.7%
Washington County: 120,900, up 2%
Arkansas: 1.299 million, up 1%

• Estimated number of business establishments, second quarter 2024
Pulaski County: 14,100
Benton County: 8,200
Washington County: 6,900
Arkansas: 101,700

STATE, NATIONAL NUMBERS
Following are second quarter average weekly wage growth numbers in contiguous states.
Louisiana: $1,144, up 4.7% compared with the same period in 2023
Mississippi: $960, up 4%
Missouri: $1,186, up 3.1%
Oklahoma: $1,101, up 4.7%
Tennessee: $1,248, up 4.2%
Texas: $1,381, up 4.5%

From June 2023 to June 2024, employment increased in 259 of the 369 largest U.S. counties, according to the BLS report. Among the 369 largest counties, 348 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages.

In the second quarter of 2024, average weekly wages for the nation reached $1,390, up 4.4% compared with the same period in 2023. Hamilton, Ind., had the largest second quarter over-the-year wage gain at 33.4%. Within Hamilton, an average weekly wage gain of $2,161 (up 139.6%) in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s increase in average weekly wages.

Essex, Mass., had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease – down 2.1% – in average weekly wages. Within Essex, an average weekly wage loss of $644 (down 25.7%) in professional and business services made the largest contribution to the county’s decrease in average weekly wages.