Employment in Florida’s largest counties showed growth in most areas from March 2024 to March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report found that employment increased in 20 out of the 25 largest counties with published figures. Pasco and St. Johns counties recorded the highest annual employment increases at 2.2 percent each, while Pinellas County experienced the largest decrease at -1.4 percent.
Miami-Dade County reported the highest employment numbers among Florida’s largest counties, with 1,283,000 people employed as of March 2025. Collectively, the state’s 27 largest counties accounted for nearly 88 percent of all covered employment in Florida during this period. On a national scale, large counties made up about 73 percent of total covered employment across the United States.
All large Florida counties with available data saw an increase in average weekly wages over the year. Duval County led wage growth with a rise of 6.8 percent; other large counties posted gains ranging between 1.8 and 6.7 percent.
Only two of Florida’s largest counties had average weekly wages above the national figure of $1,589: Miami-Dade ($1,708) and one other unnamed county within this range; Marion County reported one of the lowest averages at $1,032 per week.
For smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—wage levels were below the national average across all reporting areas. Indian River County registered the highest average weekly wage among these smaller regions at $1,306, while Holmes County had the lowest at $773.
Across all 67 Florida counties, nine reported average weekly wages under $900; twenty-one fell between $900 and $1,024; thirteen ranged from $1,025 to $1,149; ten were between $1,150 and $1,274; and fourteen had averages above $1,275.
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages provides additional details on state-level trends through its online resources and news releases.
“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 update on county employment and wages for second quarter 2025 is set for release on December 3rd at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
