la Frontera In the News

Austin Business Journal

January 16, 2004

Williamson County fourth in U.S. for wage growth

Williamson County ranked fourth among the 316 largest U.S. counties for growth in weekly average wages from June 2002 to June 2003, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Weekly average wages in Williamson County jumped 6.6 percent to $741, according to the report, based on preliminary data. Kent County, R.I., led the country in wage growth with an increase of 7.9 percent.

Travis County ranked 108th for growth in average weekly wages -- 2.9 percent -- to $792.

U.S. average weekly wages rose by 2.2 percent during that time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For employment growth from June 2002 to June 2003, Williamson County ranked No. 27 for a 2.2 percent increase. Travis County ranked 270th with a 2 percent job loss.

Loudoun County, Va., ranked first in the country with job growth of 5.2 percent.

From June 2002 to June 2003, U.S. jobs declined 0.5 percent.