Employment in three of Alabama’s seven largest counties increased between March 2024 and March 2025, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Baldwin County experienced the highest growth, with employment rising by 2.1 percent over the year.
Jefferson County reported the highest number of employed persons among large counties in Alabama, with 365,200 workers as of March 2025. These seven largest counties represented more than half—55.7 percent—of all covered employment in the state during this period. Nationally, large counties account for nearly three-quarters of total covered employment.
All six major Alabama counties with available data recorded increases in average weekly wages over the year. Jefferson County led these gains with a 5.4 percent increase. Other large counties saw wage growth ranging from 3.4 percent to 0.7 percent.
Despite these increases, average weekly wages in all large Alabama counties remained below the national average of $1,589 per week. Madison County had the highest weekly wage among them at $1,514, while Baldwin County reported $996.
For smaller Alabama counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—employment and wage levels were also tracked. Of these 60 small counties, only Washington County reported an average weekly wage above the national average at $1,886; Geneva County had the lowest at $825.
Across all 67 Alabama counties, there was significant variation in wages: fifteen had average weekly wages under $925; twenty-one ranged from $925 to $999; twelve fell between $1,000 and $1,074; six were between $1,075 and $1,149; and thirteen reported wages of $1,150 or higher.
Further details about county-level employment and wage statistics are available through the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The next release covering second quarter data for 2025 is scheduled for December 3.
“Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Baldwin County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 2.1 percent.”
