Counties in Missouri by covered employment (QCEW)

St. Louis County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 115 counties in 2017, at 605,368 jobs. Worth County had the lowest, at 351 jobs. The median was 5,339 jobs and the figure for Missouri was 2,781,242 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest605,368St. Louis County
Lowest351Worth County
Median5,339115 counties
Missouri2,781,242History

Map of counties, 2017

Adair County: 10,009 jobsAndrew County: 2,511 jobsAtchison County: 1,671 jobsAudrain County: 9,289 jobsBarry County: 14,322 jobsBarton County: 3,170 jobsBates County: 3,701 jobsBenton County: 3,586 jobsBollinger County: 1,816 jobsBoone County: 93,708 jobsBuchanan County: 47,330 jobsButler County: 18,661 jobsCaldwell County: 1,841 jobsCallaway County: 14,354 jobsCamden County: 16,551 jobsCape Girardeau County: 40,421 jobsCarroll County: 2,433 jobsCarter County: 1,468 jobsCass County: 25,939 jobsCedar County: 3,105 jobsChariton County: 1,890 jobsChristian County: 17,098 jobsClark County: 1,371 jobsClay County: 104,865 jobsClinton County: 4,017 jobsCole County: 53,260 jobsCooper County: 4,964 jobsCrawford County: 6,540 jobsDade County: 1,692 jobsDallas County: 2,462 jobsDaviess County: 1,452 jobsDeKalb County: 3,554 jobsDent County: 3,790 jobsDouglas County: 2,358 jobsDunklin County: 9,368 jobsFranklin County: 39,447 jobsGasconade County: 5,339 jobsGentry County: 2,251 jobsGreene County: 164,733 jobsGrundy County: 3,351 jobsHarrison County: 2,540 jobsHenry County: 7,354 jobsHickory County: 1,269 jobsHolt County: 1,287 jobsHoward County: 2,685 jobsHowell County: 14,701 jobsIron County: 3,407 jobsJackson County: 367,666 jobsJasper County: 60,636 jobsJefferson County: 47,378 jobsJohnson County: 15,722 jobsKnox County: 1,084 jobsLaclede County: 13,592 jobsLafayette County: 8,555 jobsLawrence County: 8,901 jobsLewis County: 2,610 jobsLincoln County: 11,651 jobsLinn County: 3,894 jobsLivingston County: 6,284 jobsMcDonald County: 7,140 jobsMacon County: 5,043 jobsMadison County: 3,606 jobsMaries County: 1,224 jobsMarion County: 13,352 jobsMercer County: 1,704 jobsMiller County: 6,936 jobsMississippi County: 3,845 jobsMoniteau County: 3,990 jobsMonroe County: 1,928 jobsMontgomery County: 2,831 jobsMorgan County: 4,190 jobsNew Madrid County: 6,559 jobsNewton County: 16,707 jobsNodaway County: 7,560 jobsOregon County: 2,283 jobsOsage County: 3,765 jobsOzark County: 1,525 jobsPemiscot County: 5,404 jobsPerry County: 9,659 jobsPettis County: 19,364 jobsPhelps County: 18,210 jobsPike County: 5,809 jobsPlatte County: 45,579 jobsPolk County: 8,386 jobsPulaski County: 13,115 jobsPutnam County: 976 jobsRalls County: 3,437 jobsRandolph County: 9,332 jobsRay County: 4,326 jobsReynolds County: 2,022 jobsRipley County: 2,839 jobsSt. Charles County: 146,549 jobsSt. Clair County: 1,621 jobsSte. Genevieve County: 5,484 jobsSt. Francois County: 23,390 jobsSt. Louis County: 605,368 jobsSaline County: 8,583 jobsSchuyler County: 591 jobsScotland County: 1,176 jobsScott County: 15,482 jobsShannon County: 1,416 jobsShelby County: 1,748 jobsStoddard County: 10,085 jobsStone County: 5,514 jobsSullivan County: 2,378 jobsTaney County: 30,204 jobsTexas County: 5,692 jobsVernon County: 6,895 jobsWarren County: 7,339 jobsWashington County: 4,918 jobsWayne County: 2,653 jobsWebster County: 6,900 jobsWorth County: 351 jobsWright County: 4,156 jobsSt. Louis city: 226,325 jobs
  • Under 2,000
  • 2,000 to 3,000
  • 3,000 to 5,000
  • 5,000 to 9,000
  • 9,000 to 18K
  • 18K and over
jobs, 2017. 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, 2017

St. Louis County: 605,368 jobsSt. Louis County605,368Jackson County: 367,666 jobsJackson County367,666St. Louis city: 226,325 jobsSt. Louis city226,325Greene County: 164,733 jobsGreene County164,733St. Charles County: 146,549 jobsSt. Charles County146,549Clay County: 104,865 jobsClay County104,865Boone County: 93,708 jobsBoone County93,708Jasper County: 60,636 jobsJasper County60,636Cole County: 53,260 jobsCole County53,260Jefferson County: 47,378 jobsJefferson County47,378Buchanan County: 47,330 jobsBuchanan County47,330Platte County: 45,579 jobsPlatte County45,579Cape Girardeau County: 40,421 jobsCape Girardeau County40,421Franklin County: 39,447 jobsFranklin County39,447Taney County: 30,204 jobsTaney County30,204Cass County: 25,939 jobsCass County25,939St. Francois County: 23,390 jobsSt. Francois County23,390Pettis County: 19,364 jobsPettis County19,364Butler County: 18,661 jobsButler County18,661Phelps County: 18,210 jobsPhelps County18,210Christian County: 17,098 jobsChristian County17,098Newton County: 16,707 jobsNewton County16,707Camden County: 16,551 jobsCamden County16,551Johnson County: 15,722 jobsJohnson County15,722Scott County: 15,482 jobsScott County15,482Howell County: 14,701 jobsHowell County14,701Callaway County: 14,354 jobsCallaway County14,354Barry County: 14,322 jobsBarry County14,322Laclede County: 13,592 jobsLaclede County13,592Marion County: 13,352 jobsMarion County13,352Pulaski County: 13,115 jobsPulaski County13,115Lincoln County: 11,651 jobsLincoln County11,651Stoddard County: 10,085 jobsStoddard County10,085Adair County: 10,009 jobsAdair County10,009Perry County: 9,659 jobsPerry County9,659Dunklin County: 9,368 jobsDunklin County9,368Randolph County: 9,332 jobsRandolph County9,332Audrain County: 9,289 jobsAudrain County9,289Lawrence County: 8,901 jobsLawrence County8,901Saline County: 8,583 jobsSaline County8,583St. Louis County: 605,368 jobsSt. Louis County605,368Jackson County: 367,666 jobsJackson County367,666St. Louis city: 226,325 jobsSt. Louis city226,325Greene County: 164,733 jobsGreene County164,733St. Charles County: 146,549 jobsSt. Charles County146,549Clay County: 104,865 jobsClay County104,865Boone County: 93,708 jobsBoone County93,708Jasper County: 60,636 jobsJasper County60,636Cole County: 53,260 jobsCole County53,260Jefferson County: 47,378 jobsJefferson County47,378Buchanan County: 47,330 jobsBuchanan County47,330Platte County: 45,579 jobsPlatte County45,579Cape Girardeau County: 40,421 jobsCape Girardeau County40,421Franklin County: 39,447 jobsFranklin County39,447Taney County: 30,204 jobsTaney County30,204Cass County: 25,939 jobsCass County25,939St. Francois County: 23,390 jobsSt. Francois County23,390Pettis County: 19,364 jobsPettis County19,364Butler County: 18,661 jobsButler County18,661Phelps County: 18,210 jobsPhelps County18,210Christian County: 17,098 jobsChristian County17,098Newton County: 16,707 jobsNewton County16,707Camden County: 16,551 jobsCamden County16,551Johnson County: 15,722 jobsJohnson County15,722Scott County: 15,482 jobsScott County15,482Howell County: 14,701 jobsHowell County14,701Callaway County: 14,354 jobsCallaway County14,354Barry County: 14,322 jobsBarry County14,322Laclede County: 13,592 jobsLaclede County13,592Marion County: 13,352 jobsMarion County13,352Pulaski County: 13,115 jobsPulaski County13,115Lincoln County: 11,651 jobsLincoln County11,651Stoddard County: 10,085 jobsStoddard County10,085Adair County: 10,009 jobsAdair County10,009Perry County: 9,659 jobsPerry County9,659Dunklin County: 9,368 jobsDunklin County9,368Randolph County: 9,332 jobsRandolph County9,332Audrain County: 9,289 jobsAudrain County9,289Lawrence County: 8,901 jobsLawrence County8,901Saline County: 8,583 jobsSaline County8,583
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

RankCounties2017
jobs
Change on 2016
1St. Louis County605,368+1.1%
2Jackson County367,666+1.2%
3St. Louis city226,325+0.3%
4Greene County164,733+1.1%
5St. Charles County146,549+1.9%
6Clay County104,865+2.2%
7Boone County93,708+1.3%
8Jasper County60,636+0.9%
9Cole County53,260+0.8%
10Jefferson County47,378-0.9%
11Buchanan County47,330-0.3%
12Platte County45,579+2.6%
13Cape Girardeau County40,421-0.2%
14Franklin County39,447+0.9%
15Taney County30,204+3.6%
16Cass County25,939+1.3%
17St. Francois County23,390+2%
18Pettis County19,364+0.5%
19Butler County18,661-1.9%
20Phelps County18,210+1.2%
21Christian County17,098+2%
22Newton County16,707-1.4%
23Camden County16,551+0.2%
24Johnson County15,722+0.8%
25Scott County15,482+1.8%
26Howell County14,701-1.2%
27Callaway County14,354+0.2%
28Barry County14,322+1.7%
29Laclede County13,592+2.2%
30Marion County13,352-0.5%
31Pulaski County13,115+1.2%
32Lincoln County11,651+0.8%
33Stoddard County10,085-1%
34Adair County10,009+2.7%
35Perry County9,6590%
36Dunklin County9,368-3%
37Randolph County9,332-3.4%
38Audrain County9,289-1.2%
39Lawrence County8,901-0.4%
40Saline County8,583-0.6%
41Lafayette County8,555-0.7%
42Polk County8,386+1.9%
43Nodaway County7,560-1.3%
44Henry County7,354-0.9%
45Warren County7,339+3.1%
46McDonald County7,140+2.4%
47Miller County6,936+1.6%
48Webster County6,900+2.5%
49Vernon County6,895+0.3%
50New Madrid County6,559-2.2%
51Crawford County6,540-1.1%
52Livingston County6,284+1.2%
53Pike County5,809-2.6%
54Texas County5,692+0.8%
55Stone County5,514-1.7%
56Ste. Genevieve County5,484+1.3%
57Pemiscot County5,404-8.2%
58Gasconade County5,339+1.1%
59Macon County5,043-0.4%
60Cooper County4,964+0.1%
61Washington County4,918-1.5%
62Ray County4,326+0.8%
63Morgan County4,190-0.5%
64Wright County4,156+0.4%
65Clinton County4,017+0.2%
66Moniteau County3,990-2.4%
67Linn County3,894-0.7%
68Mississippi County3,845-2.6%
69Dent County3,790-0.8%
70Osage County3,765+5.5%
71Bates County3,701+1.6%
72Madison County3,606-1.1%
73Benton County3,586-0.1%
74DeKalb County3,554-1.8%
75Ralls County3,437-2%
76Iron County3,407-7.6%
77Grundy County3,351-2.5%
78Barton County3,170-1.9%
79Cedar County3,105-1.7%
80Ripley County2,839-1.3%
81Montgomery County2,831-1.8%
82Howard County2,685+0.8%
83Wayne County2,653-3.8%
84Lewis County2,610-0.5%
85Harrison County2,540-2.4%
86Andrew County2,511+5.5%
87Dallas County2,462+1.2%
88Carroll County2,433+2.8%
89Sullivan County2,378+0.3%
90Douglas County2,358+0.1%
91Oregon County2,283-2%
92Gentry County2,251+2.1%
93Reynolds County2,022+21.1%
94Monroe County1,928-4%
95Chariton County1,890+1.4%
96Caldwell County1,841+7%
97Bollinger County1,8160%
98Shelby County1,748+1.3%
99Mercer County1,704-2.9%
100Dade County1,692-0.2%
101Atchison County1,671+2.3%
102St. Clair County1,621-1.8%
103Ozark County1,525-2%
104Carter County1,468+0.8%
105Daviess County1,452-3%
106Shannon County1,416-1.6%
107Clark County1,371-2.6%
108Holt County1,287+1.7%
109Hickory County1,269+2.6%
110Maries County1,224+0.2%
111Scotland County1,176-0.4%
112Knox County1,084-1.3%
113Putnam County9760%
114Schuyler County591-2.5%
115Worth County351-5.9%

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/2017/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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017. 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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017.

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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_missouri_by_2017,
  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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/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 Missouri by covered employment (QCEW), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2017/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

St. Louis County, with 605,368 jobs in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Worth County, with 351 jobs in 2017.

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 Missouri: more rankings