Employment in Mississippi’s two largest counties, Hinds and Harrison, increased from March 2024 to March 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Victoria G. Lee, Regional Commissioner, stated that Hinds County experienced a 0.3 percent rise in employment during this period.
Hinds County reported an employment level of 109,200 in March 2025, higher than Harrison County. Combined, these two counties represented 17.1 percent of all covered employment within Mississippi. In comparison, the largest counties nationwide account for 73.4 percent of total covered employment across the United States.
Both Hinds and Harrison counties saw their average weekly wages increase over the year. Hinds led with a 5.2 percent wage increase; Harrison followed with a 3.7 percent gain.
Despite these increases, both counties had average weekly wages below the national figure of $1,589: Hinds at $1,200 and Harrison at $990.
For Mississippi’s smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—employment and wage levels are also available but not annual changes. Most small counties paid less than the national average wage; Claiborne County reported the highest average weekly wage at $1,607 while Issaquena had the lowest at $601.
Of all Mississippi’s 82 counties, ten reported average weekly wages under $775; twenty-three fell between $775 and $849; twenty-two ranged from $850 to $924; ten were between $925 and $999; and seventeen recorded average weekly wages above $1,000.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides further information on quarterly employment and wage data through its news releases and website (https://www.bls.gov/cew/). The next release covering second quarter 2025 is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
“Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Hinds County had the larger over-the-year increase in employment (+0.3 percent).”
