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- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Employment and wages across Ohio's counties demonstrate notable variation, according to the latest data for the first quarter of 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Reviewing both large and small counties, clear patterns emerge in growth rates and wage distributions statewide.
From March 2025 to March 2026, overall employment in Ohio declined by 0.2%, reaching 5,458,300 in March 2026. Among Ohio's 15 largest counties, 8 recorded employment decreases, with Lucas County experiencing the largest drop at -2.7%, followed by Greene (-2.5%), Mahoning and Summit (both -1.0%). In contrast, Licking County stood out with the highest employment growth at +3.6% among large counties. (BLS: County Employment and Wages in Ohio — First Quarter 2026)
Franklin County reported the state's highest employment level at 784,900, contributing to Ohio’s largest labor market. Collectively, the 15 largest counties accounted for 66.4% of total covered employment in the state.
Turning to average weekly wages, the statewide figure rose 4.0% over the year to $1,417, placing Ohio 26th nationally for wage level and 17th for wage growth. However, wage growth varied substantially across counties. Delaware County led wage growth among large counties at +10.6%, with Licking (+5.7%), Stark (+5.5%), and Cuyahoga (+4.8%) following. Despite this, wage increases in 8 of 14 large counties trailed the national annual gain of 3.9%.
Only two of Ohio's largest counties—Delaware ($1,836) and Hamilton ($1,701)—reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,654. Most large counties' weekly wages ranged from $1,630 in Cuyahoga down to $1,064 in Mahoning. For smaller counties (those with less than 75,000 employees), all fell below the national average, with Union County at the top ($1,396) and Hocking County at the lowest ($801). (BLS: County Employment and Wages in Ohio — First Quarter 2026)
Statewide, among all 88 counties, only 17 reported average weekly wages of $1,225 or higher in the first quarter of 2026, while 16 counties posted averages below $1,000. This geographic spread underscores the persistent disparities in income across Ohio’s counties despite overall growth.
For further breakdowns and interactive data tables by county, consult the BLS news release linked above.
