October 27, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Counties with fastest job growth, March 2003-March 2004

In March 2004, Prince William County, Virginia, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S.

[Chart data—TXT]

Prince William County experienced an employment gain of 8.0 percent from March 2003 to March 2004, compared with national job growth of 0.8 percent.

Rutherford County, Tennessee, had the next largest increase, 7.3 percent, followed by the counties of Marion, Florida (6.4 percent), Placer, California (6.3 percent), and Lee, Florida (5.8 percent).

The BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program produced these data, which are preliminary and subject to revision. Employment data presented here are for all workers covered by State and Federal unemployment insurance programs. The largest counties are those with employment levels of 75,000 or more—there are 317 such counties. Find more about pay and employment in large counties in "County Employment and Wages: First Quarter 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04–2211. 

 

Related TED article:

• Counties with most rapid growth in employment, December 2002-December 2003