Employment in three of Alabama’s seven largest counties rose between March 2024 and March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Baldwin County experienced the highest increase in employment at 2.1 percent during this period.
Jefferson County recorded the highest employment among large Alabama counties, with 365,200 jobs as of March 2025. These seven largest counties represented over half—55.7 percent—of all covered employment in Alabama. Across the United States, the largest 372 counties account for about 73.4 percent of total covered employment.
All six large Alabama counties with available wage data saw average weekly wages rise over the year. Jefferson County posted the largest gain at 5.4 percent, while increases in other large counties ranged from 3.4 percent to 0.7 percent.
Despite these gains, average weekly wages in all large Alabama counties remained below the national average of $1,589 per week. Madison County had the highest average weekly wage among them at $1,514, while Baldwin County reported $996.
Data on employment and wage levels are also available for Alabama’s smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 jobs in 2024—but only wage figures are published for these areas. In this group, Washington County reported the state’s highest average weekly wage at $1,886; Geneva County had the lowest at $825.
Among all 67 counties statewide:
– Fifteen had average weekly wages under $925.
– Twenty-one reported wages between $925 and $999.
– Twelve had averages from $1,000 to $1,074.
– Six were between $1,075 and $1,149.
– Thirteen recorded averages of $1,150 or higher.
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program provides additional information through its website and technical notes included in related news releases.
“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.”
The next release covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
