Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / Counties in Alabama

Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW)

Jefferson County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 67 counties in 2024, at 367,081 jobs. Coosa County had the lowest, at 1,452 jobs. The median was 10,222 jobs and the figure for Alabama was 2,105,674 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest367,081Jefferson County
Lowest1,452Coosa County
Median10,22267 counties
Alabama2,105,674History

Map of counties, 2024

Autauga County: 12,383 jobsBaldwin County: 85,118 jobsBarbour County: 7,711 jobsBibb County: 4,828 jobsBlount County: 9,094 jobsBullock County: 2,788 jobsButler County: 6,789 jobsCalhoun County: 43,778 jobsChambers County: 9,087 jobsCherokee County: 5,352 jobsChilton County: 9,143 jobsChoctaw County: 3,299 jobsClarke County: 8,150 jobsClay County: 4,241 jobsCleburne County: 2,721 jobsCoffee County: 17,365 jobsColbert County: 24,495 jobsConecuh County: 3,294 jobsCoosa County: 1,452 jobsCovington County: 12,174 jobsCrenshaw County: 3,556 jobsCullman County: 31,068 jobsDale County: 18,260 jobsDallas County: 11,290 jobsDeKalb County: 23,367 jobsElmore County: 21,539 jobsEscambia County: 12,924 jobsEtowah County: 33,010 jobsFayette County: 3,926 jobsFranklin County: 10,956 jobsGeneva County: 5,471 jobsGreene County: 1,741 jobsHale County: 2,607 jobsHenry County: 3,919 jobsHouston County: 50,877 jobsJackson County: 15,446 jobsJefferson County: 367,081 jobsLamar County: 3,403 jobsLauderdale County: 30,845 jobsLawrence County: 6,054 jobsLee County: 66,643 jobsLimestone County: 34,080 jobsLowndes County: 2,675 jobsMacon County: 4,827 jobsMadison County: 229,807 jobsMarengo County: 7,271 jobsMarion County: 10,222 jobsMarshall County: 40,812 jobsMobile County: 175,327 jobsMonroe County: 5,953 jobsMontgomery County: 132,903 jobsMorgan County: 52,617 jobsPerry County: 1,826 jobsPickens County: 3,718 jobsPike County: 15,411 jobsRandolph County: 4,883 jobsRussell County: 14,057 jobsSt. Clair County: 21,980 jobsShelby County: 85,169 jobsSumter County: 2,849 jobsTalladega County: 31,690 jobsTallapoosa County: 13,046 jobsTuscaloosa County: 99,288 jobsWalker County: 18,709 jobsWashington County: 5,197 jobsWilcox County: 2,682 jobsWinston County: 7,998 jobs
  • Under 3,000
  • 3,000 to 5,000
  • 5,000 to 10K
  • 10K to 18K
  • 18K to 41K
  • 41K and over
jobs, 2024. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Jefferson County: 367,081 jobsJefferson County367,081Madison County: 229,807 jobsMadison County229,807Mobile County: 175,327 jobsMobile County175,327Montgomery County: 132,903 jobsMontgomery County132,903Tuscaloosa County: 99,288 jobsTuscaloosa County99,288Shelby County: 85,169 jobsShelby County85,169Baldwin County: 85,118 jobsBaldwin County85,118Lee County: 66,643 jobsLee County66,643Morgan County: 52,617 jobsMorgan County52,617Houston County: 50,877 jobsHouston County50,877Calhoun County: 43,778 jobsCalhoun County43,778Marshall County: 40,812 jobsMarshall County40,812Limestone County: 34,080 jobsLimestone County34,080Etowah County: 33,010 jobsEtowah County33,010Talladega County: 31,690 jobsTalladega County31,690Cullman County: 31,068 jobsCullman County31,068Lauderdale County: 30,845 jobsLauderdale County30,845Colbert County: 24,495 jobsColbert County24,495DeKalb County: 23,367 jobsDeKalb County23,367St. Clair County: 21,980 jobsSt. Clair County21,980Elmore County: 21,539 jobsElmore County21,539Walker County: 18,709 jobsWalker County18,709Dale County: 18,260 jobsDale County18,260Coffee County: 17,365 jobsCoffee County17,365Jackson County: 15,446 jobsJackson County15,446Pike County: 15,411 jobsPike County15,411Russell County: 14,057 jobsRussell County14,057Tallapoosa County: 13,046 jobsTallapoosa County13,046Escambia County: 12,924 jobsEscambia County12,924Autauga County: 12,383 jobsAutauga County12,383Covington County: 12,174 jobsCovington County12,174Dallas County: 11,290 jobsDallas County11,290Franklin County: 10,956 jobsFranklin County10,956Marion County: 10,222 jobsMarion County10,222Chilton County: 9,143 jobsChilton County9,143Blount County: 9,094 jobsBlount County9,094Chambers County: 9,087 jobsChambers County9,087Clarke County: 8,150 jobsClarke County8,150Winston County: 7,998 jobsWinston County7,998Barbour County: 7,711 jobsBarbour County7,711Jefferson County: 367,081 jobsJefferson County367,081Madison County: 229,807 jobsMadison County229,807Mobile County: 175,327 jobsMobile County175,327Montgomery County: 132,903 jobsMontgomery County132,903Tuscaloosa County: 99,288 jobsTuscaloosa County99,288Shelby County: 85,169 jobsShelby County85,169Baldwin County: 85,118 jobsBaldwin County85,118Lee County: 66,643 jobsLee County66,643Morgan County: 52,617 jobsMorgan County52,617Houston County: 50,877 jobsHouston County50,877Calhoun County: 43,778 jobsCalhoun County43,778Marshall County: 40,812 jobsMarshall County40,812Limestone County: 34,080 jobsLimestone County34,080Etowah County: 33,010 jobsEtowah County33,010Talladega County: 31,690 jobsTalladega County31,690Cullman County: 31,068 jobsCullman County31,068Lauderdale County: 30,845 jobsLauderdale County30,845Colbert County: 24,495 jobsColbert County24,495DeKalb County: 23,367 jobsDeKalb County23,367St. Clair County: 21,980 jobsSt. Clair County21,980Elmore County: 21,539 jobsElmore County21,539Walker County: 18,709 jobsWalker County18,709Dale County: 18,260 jobsDale County18,260Coffee County: 17,365 jobsCoffee County17,365Jackson County: 15,446 jobsJackson County15,446Pike County: 15,411 jobsPike County15,411Russell County: 14,057 jobsRussell County14,057Tallapoosa County: 13,046 jobsTallapoosa County13,046Escambia County: 12,924 jobsEscambia County12,924Autauga County: 12,383 jobsAutauga County12,383Covington County: 12,174 jobsCovington County12,174Dallas County: 11,290 jobsDallas County11,290Franklin County: 10,956 jobsFranklin County10,956Marion County: 10,222 jobsMarion County10,222Chilton County: 9,143 jobsChilton County9,143Blount County: 9,094 jobsBlount County9,094Chambers County: 9,087 jobsChambers County9,087Clarke County: 8,150 jobsClarke County8,150Winston County: 7,998 jobsWinston County7,998Barbour County: 7,711 jobsBarbour County7,711
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024
jobs		Change on 2023
1Jefferson County367,081+1.2%
2Madison County229,807+2.2%
3Mobile County175,327+2.3%
4Montgomery County132,903+1.4%
5Tuscaloosa County99,288+1.6%
6Shelby County85,169-0.5%
7Baldwin County85,118+2.8%
8Lee County66,643+2%
9Morgan County52,617+1.7%
10Houston County50,877+0.6%
11Calhoun County43,778+0.3%
12Marshall County40,812+1.6%
13Limestone County34,080+4.9%
14Etowah County33,010+1.1%
15Talladega County31,690+0.2%
16Cullman County31,068+1.2%
17Lauderdale County30,845+0.5%
18Colbert County24,495+1.3%
19DeKalb County23,367+2.6%
20St. Clair County21,980+4.1%
21Elmore County21,539+5.2%
22Walker County18,709+1.3%
23Dale County18,260+1.5%
24Coffee County17,365+2.8%
25Jackson County15,446-0.1%
26Pike County15,411+0.4%
27Russell County14,057-0.1%
28Tallapoosa County13,046+2.7%
29Escambia County12,924+0.5%
30Autauga County12,383+4.3%
31Covington County12,174+1.6%
32Dallas County11,290-1%
33Franklin County10,956+2.8%
34Marion County10,222-6.3%
35Chilton County9,143-0.9%
36Blount County9,094+2.7%
37Chambers County9,087+4.4%
38Clarke County8,150-0%
39Winston County7,998+1.6%
40Barbour County7,711+0.1%
41Marengo County7,271+0.2%
42Butler County6,789-2.3%
43Lawrence County6,054+12.2%
44Monroe County5,953-1%
45Geneva County5,471+0.2%
46Cherokee County5,352+0.9%
47Washington County5,197-14.5%
48Randolph County4,8830%
49Bibb County4,828+0.3%
50Macon County4,827+3.7%
51Clay County4,241+0.2%
52Fayette County3,926+0.4%
53Henry County3,919-0.1%
54Pickens County3,718-0.4%
55Crenshaw County3,556+0.3%
56Lamar County3,403-1.2%
57Choctaw County3,299-0.7%
58Conecuh County3,294+1.3%
59Sumter County2,849-3.3%
60Bullock County2,788+1.8%
61Cleburne County2,721+6%
62Wilcox County2,682+3.1%
63Lowndes County2,675-10%
64Hale County2,607-0.3%
65Perry County1,826+3%
66Greene County1,741-2.8%
67Coosa County1,452-4.8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_alabama_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Alabama by covered employment (QCEW), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/alabama-counties?period=2024.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Jefferson County, with 367,081 jobs in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Coosa County, with 1,452 jobs in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Alabama: more rankings