Report: Greene County employment grows fastest in state

Greene and Clay counties both had 3 percent employment growth during the period – more than double the second-largest increase of 1.3 percent, seen in Jackson County, and more than three times the national average of 0.9 percent.

In terms of employment figures, Greene County reported 158,800 jobs in September 2007, ranking fourth among the state’s seven largest counties. St. Louis County was No. 1, with 611,900 jobs.

Despite fast job growth, Greene County was among the 20 lowest-paying counties in the nation. Greene reported an average wage of $637 per week, compared to an $818 national average. The highest-paying county in Missouri was St. Louis City, at $887 per week; the highest in the United States was Santa Clara, Calif., which reported an average weekly wage of $1,585.

Missouri overall experienced 0.8 percent employment growth and reached 2.7 million jobs in September. The state’s average weekly wage was $719.

Download the full report here.