Counties in Missouri by covered employment (QCEW)

St. Louis County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 115 counties in 2022, at 589,994 jobs. Worth County had the lowest, at 390 jobs. The median was 5,002 jobs and the figure for Missouri was 2,821,194 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest589,994St. Louis County
Lowest390Worth County
Median5,002115 counties
Missouri2,821,194History

Map of counties, 2022

Adair County: 9,548 jobsAndrew County: 2,746 jobsAtchison County: 1,650 jobsAudrain County: 8,210 jobsBarry County: 13,377 jobsBarton County: 3,428 jobsBates County: 3,620 jobsBenton County: 3,656 jobsBollinger County: 1,808 jobsBoone County: 96,403 jobsBuchanan County: 44,626 jobsButler County: 18,364 jobsCaldwell County: 1,911 jobsCallaway County: 14,773 jobsCamden County: 17,036 jobsCape Girardeau County: 40,883 jobsCarroll County: 2,397 jobsCarter County: 1,512 jobsCass County: 29,420 jobsCedar County: 3,187 jobsChariton County: 1,880 jobsChristian County: 19,363 jobsClark County: 1,394 jobsClay County: 107,380 jobsClinton County: 4,213 jobsCole County: 52,209 jobsCooper County: 4,691 jobsCrawford County: 6,786 jobsDade County: 1,659 jobsDallas County: 2,563 jobsDaviess County: 1,623 jobsDeKalb County: 2,665 jobsDent County: 3,774 jobsDouglas County: 2,475 jobsDunklin County: 8,703 jobsFranklin County: 38,337 jobsGasconade County: 5,351 jobsGentry County: 2,039 jobsGreene County: 172,522 jobsGrundy County: 2,868 jobsHarrison County: 2,487 jobsHenry County: 7,840 jobsHickory County: 1,399 jobsHolt County: 1,267 jobsHoward County: 2,420 jobsHowell County: 15,141 jobsIron County: 3,451 jobsJackson County: 366,660 jobsJasper County: 58,281 jobsJefferson County: 47,493 jobsJohnson County: 15,689 jobsKnox County: 888 jobsLaclede County: 13,949 jobsLafayette County: 8,588 jobsLawrence County: 8,537 jobsLewis County: 2,381 jobsLincoln County: 12,133 jobsLinn County: 3,980 jobsLivingston County: 6,290 jobsMcDonald County: 6,810 jobsMacon County: 4,885 jobsMadison County: 3,670 jobsMaries County: 1,271 jobsMarion County: 12,766 jobsMercer County: 1,505 jobsMiller County: 7,921 jobsMississippi County: 3,118 jobsMoniteau County: 4,174 jobsMonroe County: 1,773 jobsMontgomery County: 3,124 jobsMorgan County: 4,685 jobsNew Madrid County: 7,470 jobsNewton County: 20,596 jobsNodaway County: 8,162 jobsOregon County: 2,241 jobsOsage County: 4,200 jobsOzark County: 1,503 jobsPemiscot County: 5,002 jobsPerry County: 9,106 jobsPettis County: 18,999 jobsPhelps County: 18,877 jobsPike County: 5,191 jobsPlatte County: 45,801 jobsPolk County: 9,443 jobsPulaski County: 13,173 jobsPutnam County: 903 jobsRalls County: 3,490 jobsRandolph County: 9,615 jobsRay County: 4,055 jobsReynolds County: 1,836 jobsRipley County: 2,836 jobsSt. Charles County: 155,852 jobsSt. Clair County: 1,630 jobsSte. Genevieve County: 5,975 jobsSt. Francois County: 22,233 jobsSt. Louis County: 589,994 jobsSaline County: 8,615 jobsSchuyler County: 584 jobsScotland County: 1,140 jobsScott County: 15,933 jobsShannon County: 1,548 jobsShelby County: 1,771 jobsStoddard County: 10,431 jobsStone County: 7,069 jobsSullivan County: 2,280 jobsTaney County: 27,833 jobsTexas County: 5,739 jobsVernon County: 6,632 jobsWarren County: 7,669 jobsWashington County: 4,971 jobsWayne County: 2,166 jobsWebster County: 8,707 jobsWorth County: 390 jobsWright County: 4,450 jobsSt. Louis city: 222,214 jobs
  • Under 2,000
  • 2,000 to 3,000
  • 3,000 to 5,000
  • 5,000 to 9,000
  • 9,000 to 19K
  • 19K and over
jobs, 2022. 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, 2022

St. Louis County: 589,994 jobsSt. Louis County589,994Jackson County: 366,660 jobsJackson County366,660St. Louis city: 222,214 jobsSt. Louis city222,214Greene County: 172,522 jobsGreene County172,522St. Charles County: 155,852 jobsSt. Charles County155,852Clay County: 107,380 jobsClay County107,380Boone County: 96,403 jobsBoone County96,403Jasper County: 58,281 jobsJasper County58,281Cole County: 52,209 jobsCole County52,209Jefferson County: 47,493 jobsJefferson County47,493Platte County: 45,801 jobsPlatte County45,801Buchanan County: 44,626 jobsBuchanan County44,626Cape Girardeau County: 40,883 jobsCape Girardeau County40,883Franklin County: 38,337 jobsFranklin County38,337Cass County: 29,420 jobsCass County29,420Taney County: 27,833 jobsTaney County27,833St. Francois County: 22,233 jobsSt. Francois County22,233Newton County: 20,596 jobsNewton County20,596Christian County: 19,363 jobsChristian County19,363Pettis County: 18,999 jobsPettis County18,999Phelps County: 18,877 jobsPhelps County18,877Butler County: 18,364 jobsButler County18,364Camden County: 17,036 jobsCamden County17,036Scott County: 15,933 jobsScott County15,933Johnson County: 15,689 jobsJohnson County15,689Howell County: 15,141 jobsHowell County15,141Callaway County: 14,773 jobsCallaway County14,773Laclede County: 13,949 jobsLaclede County13,949Barry County: 13,377 jobsBarry County13,377Pulaski County: 13,173 jobsPulaski County13,173Marion County: 12,766 jobsMarion County12,766Lincoln County: 12,133 jobsLincoln County12,133Stoddard County: 10,431 jobsStoddard County10,431Randolph County: 9,615 jobsRandolph County9,615Adair County: 9,548 jobsAdair County9,548Polk County: 9,443 jobsPolk County9,443Perry County: 9,106 jobsPerry County9,106Webster County: 8,707 jobsWebster County8,707Dunklin County: 8,703 jobsDunklin County8,703Saline County: 8,615 jobsSaline County8,615St. Louis County: 589,994 jobsSt. Louis County589,994Jackson County: 366,660 jobsJackson County366,660St. Louis city: 222,214 jobsSt. Louis city222,214Greene County: 172,522 jobsGreene County172,522St. Charles County: 155,852 jobsSt. Charles County155,852Clay County: 107,380 jobsClay County107,380Boone County: 96,403 jobsBoone County96,403Jasper County: 58,281 jobsJasper County58,281Cole County: 52,209 jobsCole County52,209Jefferson County: 47,493 jobsJefferson County47,493Platte County: 45,801 jobsPlatte County45,801Buchanan County: 44,626 jobsBuchanan County44,626Cape Girardeau County: 40,883 jobsCape Girardeau County40,883Franklin County: 38,337 jobsFranklin County38,337Cass County: 29,420 jobsCass County29,420Taney County: 27,833 jobsTaney County27,833St. Francois County: 22,233 jobsSt. Francois County22,233Newton County: 20,596 jobsNewton County20,596Christian County: 19,363 jobsChristian County19,363Pettis County: 18,999 jobsPettis County18,999Phelps County: 18,877 jobsPhelps County18,877Butler County: 18,364 jobsButler County18,364Camden County: 17,036 jobsCamden County17,036Scott County: 15,933 jobsScott County15,933Johnson County: 15,689 jobsJohnson County15,689Howell County: 15,141 jobsHowell County15,141Callaway County: 14,773 jobsCallaway County14,773Laclede County: 13,949 jobsLaclede County13,949Barry County: 13,377 jobsBarry County13,377Pulaski County: 13,173 jobsPulaski County13,173Marion County: 12,766 jobsMarion County12,766Lincoln County: 12,133 jobsLincoln County12,133Stoddard County: 10,431 jobsStoddard County10,431Randolph County: 9,615 jobsRandolph County9,615Adair County: 9,548 jobsAdair County9,548Polk County: 9,443 jobsPolk County9,443Perry County: 9,106 jobsPerry County9,106Webster County: 8,707 jobsWebster County8,707Dunklin County: 8,703 jobsDunklin County8,703Saline County: 8,615 jobsSaline County8,615
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

RankCounties2022
jobs
Change on 2021
1St. Louis County589,994+2.1%
2Jackson County366,660+1.4%
3St. Louis city222,214+3.2%
4Greene County172,522+2.9%
5St. Charles County155,852+1.8%
6Clay County107,380+3.3%
7Boone County96,403+2.3%
8Jasper County58,281+2.4%
9Cole County52,209+1.6%
10Jefferson County47,493+1.6%
11Platte County45,801+5.2%
12Buchanan County44,626-0.4%
13Cape Girardeau County40,883+1.9%
14Franklin County38,337+2.1%
15Cass County29,420+6.3%
16Taney County27,833+2.7%
17St. Francois County22,233+0.2%
18Newton County20,596+2%
19Christian County19,363+6%
20Pettis County18,999+2.2%
21Phelps County18,877+2.8%
22Butler County18,364+2.4%
23Camden County17,036+2.7%
24Scott County15,933+1.1%
25Johnson County15,689+1.8%
26Howell County15,141+2.1%
27Callaway County14,773+1.8%
28Laclede County13,949+3.5%
29Barry County13,377-2.2%
30Pulaski County13,173+2.6%
31Marion County12,766-0.4%
32Lincoln County12,133+2.6%
33Stoddard County10,431+1.7%
34Randolph County9,615+3%
35Adair County9,548+2.4%
36Polk County9,443+2.1%
37Perry County9,106-0.6%
38Webster County8,707+4.3%
39Dunklin County8,703+1.8%
40Saline County8,615+1.9%
41Lafayette County8,588+1.4%
42Lawrence County8,537+2.1%
43Audrain County8,210-1.3%
44Nodaway County8,162+5.2%
45Miller County7,921+5.6%
46Henry County7,840+4.3%
47Warren County7,669+1.1%
48New Madrid County7,470+1.2%
49Stone County7,069+7.8%
50McDonald County6,810+2.1%
51Crawford County6,786+1.2%
52Vernon County6,632-0.7%
53Livingston County6,290+2.3%
54Ste. Genevieve County5,975+4%
55Texas County5,739+4.3%
56Gasconade County5,351+2.9%
57Pike County5,191+0.3%
58Pemiscot County5,002-0.4%
59Washington County4,971+3.6%
60Macon County4,885+1.4%
61Cooper County4,691+3%
62Morgan County4,685+2.4%
63Wright County4,450+4.5%
64Clinton County4,213+3.4%
65Osage County4,200+2.9%
66Moniteau County4,174+0.4%
67Ray County4,055+0.8%
68Linn County3,980+5.3%
69Dent County3,774-1.6%
70Madison County3,670+1.4%
71Benton County3,656+2.6%
72Bates County3,620+1.1%
73Ralls County3,490-1.8%
74Iron County3,451+3.1%
75Barton County3,428+4.5%
76Cedar County3,187+1.2%
77Montgomery County3,124+4.3%
78Mississippi County3,118-3.5%
79Grundy County2,868+0.2%
80Ripley County2,836+3.9%
81Andrew County2,746-0.4%
82DeKalb County2,665-1.2%
83Dallas County2,563+1.8%
84Harrison County2,487+3%
85Douglas County2,475+3%
86Howard County2,420-3.1%
87Carroll County2,397+3.5%
88Lewis County2,381+1.8%
89Sullivan County2,280-0.6%
90Oregon County2,241+3.9%
91Wayne County2,166-1.1%
92Gentry County2,039-2%
93Caldwell County1,911+1.6%
94Chariton County1,880+2.5%
95Reynolds County1,836-1.4%
96Bollinger County1,808+2.4%
97Monroe County1,773+3.1%
98Shelby County1,771+2.5%
99Dade County1,659-0.9%
100Atchison County1,650+0.3%
101St. Clair County1,630+3.2%
102Daviess County1,623+0.2%
103Shannon County1,548+2.7%
104Carter County1,512-1.2%
105Mercer County1,505-2.5%
106Ozark County1,503+2.9%
107Hickory County1,399+5.9%
108Clark County1,394-0.5%
109Maries County1,271+1.1%
110Holt County1,267+5.1%
111Scotland County1,140+1.5%
112Putnam County903+0.6%
113Knox County888+2.4%
114Schuyler County584+5%
115Worth County390+2.6%

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/2022/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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/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), 2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_missouri_by_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/missouri-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/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 589,994 jobs in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Worth County, with 390 jobs in 2022.

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