Employment increased in 20 of the 25 largest counties in Florida between March 2024 and March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that Pasco and St. Johns counties saw the highest employment growth over the year, each with a 2.2 percent increase. Pinellas County experienced the largest decline, with a decrease of 1.4 percent.
Miami-Dade County had the highest employment among Florida’s largest counties, with 1,283,000 jobs as of March 2025. The combined total for these 27 counties made up nearly 88 percent of all covered employment in Florida. Nationally, large counties represent about three-quarters of total covered employment.
All 24 large Florida counties with available data recorded increases in average weekly wages during this period. Duval County led wage growth at 6.8 percent, while other large counties reported wage gains ranging from 6.7 percent to 1.8 percent.
Two of Florida’s largest counties had average weekly wages above the national figure of $1,589; Miami-Dade topped the list at $1,708 per week, while Marion County reported $1,032.
For smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 jobs—wage levels were below the national average across all areas measured. Indian River posted the highest weekly wage among small counties at $1,306; Holmes County reported the lowest at $773.
Statewide analysis showed that out of all 67 Florida counties: nine had average weekly wages below $900; twenty-one ranged from $900 to $1,024; thirteen fell between $1,025 and $1,149; ten were from $1,150 to $1,274; and fourteen registered wages at or above $1,275.
Additional information is available through national releases and technical notes provided by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program on its website.
“Employment rose in 20 of the 25 largest counties in Florida with published data from March 2024 to March 2025,” said Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee. “Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Pasco and St. Johns counties had the largest over-the-year increases in employment, with gains of 2.2 percent each.”
The next release for county employment and wages covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
