Counties in Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW)

Milwaukee County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 72 counties in 2019, at 486,530 jobs. Florence County had the lowest, at 1,040 jobs. The median was 15,148 jobs and the figure for Wisconsin was 2,887,018 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest486,530Milwaukee County
Lowest1,040Florence County
Median15,14872 counties
Wisconsin2,887,018History

Map of counties, 2019

Adams County: 4,393 jobsAshland County: 8,092 jobsBarron County: 22,018 jobsBayfield County: 4,174 jobsBrown County: 158,546 jobsBuffalo County: 3,844 jobsBurnett County: 4,620 jobsCalumet County: 14,539 jobsChippewa County: 24,619 jobsClark County: 11,105 jobsColumbia County: 22,724 jobsCrawford County: 7,237 jobsDane County: 344,363 jobsDodge County: 35,558 jobsDoor County: 13,727 jobsDouglas County: 15,757 jobsDunn County: 17,585 jobsEau Claire County: 58,560 jobsFlorence County: 1,040 jobsFond du Lac County: 47,665 jobsForest County: 3,215 jobsGrant County: 17,905 jobsGreen County: 15,826 jobsGreen Lake County: 5,882 jobsIowa County: 10,371 jobsIron County: 1,655 jobsJackson County: 8,753 jobsJefferson County: 33,248 jobsJuneau County: 9,409 jobsKenosha County: 67,113 jobsKewaunee County: 6,735 jobsLa Crosse County: 69,458 jobsLafayette County: 4,334 jobsLanglade County: 7,414 jobsLincoln County: 10,887 jobsManitowoc County: 33,534 jobsMarathon County: 71,716 jobsMarinette County: 18,324 jobsMarquette County: 3,970 jobsMenominee County: 2,050 jobsMilwaukee County: 486,530 jobsMonroe County: 21,054 jobsOconto County: 8,909 jobsOneida County: 16,173 jobsOutagamie County: 108,934 jobsOzaukee County: 42,738 jobsPepin County: 2,251 jobsPierce County: 10,329 jobsPolk County: 15,826 jobsPortage County: 33,856 jobsPrice County: 5,299 jobsRacine County: 75,412 jobsRichland County: 5,865 jobsRock County: 67,791 jobsRusk County: 4,964 jobsSt. Croix County: 34,131 jobsSauk County: 37,101 jobsSawyer County: 7,003 jobsShawano County: 12,742 jobsSheboygan County: 61,503 jobsTaylor County: 8,144 jobsTrempealeau County: 13,717 jobsVernon County: 8,799 jobsVilas County: 8,145 jobsWalworth County: 42,342 jobsWashburn County: 5,797 jobsWashington County: 57,059 jobsWaukesha County: 246,034 jobsWaupaca County: 19,437 jobsWaushara County: 6,165 jobsWinnebago County: 93,007 jobsWood County: 38,719 jobs
  • Under 5,000
  • 5,000 to 9,000
  • 9,000 to 15K
  • 15K to 27K
  • 27K to 59K
  • 59K and over
jobs, 2019. 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, 2019

Milwaukee County: 486,530 jobsMilwaukee County486,530Dane County: 344,363 jobsDane County344,363Waukesha County: 246,034 jobsWaukesha County246,034Brown County: 158,546 jobsBrown County158,546Outagamie County: 108,934 jobsOutagamie County108,934Winnebago County: 93,007 jobsWinnebago County93,007Racine County: 75,412 jobsRacine County75,412Marathon County: 71,716 jobsMarathon County71,716La Crosse County: 69,458 jobsLa Crosse County69,458Rock County: 67,791 jobsRock County67,791Kenosha County: 67,113 jobsKenosha County67,113Sheboygan County: 61,503 jobsSheboygan County61,503Eau Claire County: 58,560 jobsEau Claire County58,560Washington County: 57,059 jobsWashington County57,059Fond du Lac County: 47,665 jobsFond du Lac County47,665Ozaukee County: 42,738 jobsOzaukee County42,738Walworth County: 42,342 jobsWalworth County42,342Wood County: 38,719 jobsWood County38,719Sauk County: 37,101 jobsSauk County37,101Dodge County: 35,558 jobsDodge County35,558St. Croix County: 34,131 jobsSt. Croix County34,131Portage County: 33,856 jobsPortage County33,856Manitowoc County: 33,534 jobsManitowoc County33,534Jefferson County: 33,248 jobsJefferson County33,248Chippewa County: 24,619 jobsChippewa County24,619Columbia County: 22,724 jobsColumbia County22,724Barron County: 22,018 jobsBarron County22,018Monroe County: 21,054 jobsMonroe County21,054Waupaca County: 19,437 jobsWaupaca County19,437Marinette County: 18,324 jobsMarinette County18,324Grant County: 17,905 jobsGrant County17,905Dunn County: 17,585 jobsDunn County17,585Oneida County: 16,173 jobsOneida County16,173Green County: 15,826 jobsGreen County15,826Polk County: 15,826 jobsPolk County15,826Douglas County: 15,757 jobsDouglas County15,757Calumet County: 14,539 jobsCalumet County14,539Door County: 13,727 jobsDoor County13,727Trempealeau County: 13,717 jobsTrempealeau County13,717Shawano County: 12,742 jobsShawano County12,742Milwaukee County: 486,530 jobsMilwaukee County486,530Dane County: 344,363 jobsDane County344,363Waukesha County: 246,034 jobsWaukesha County246,034Brown County: 158,546 jobsBrown County158,546Outagamie County: 108,934 jobsOutagamie County108,934Winnebago County: 93,007 jobsWinnebago County93,007Racine County: 75,412 jobsRacine County75,412Marathon County: 71,716 jobsMarathon County71,716La Crosse County: 69,458 jobsLa Crosse County69,458Rock County: 67,791 jobsRock County67,791Kenosha County: 67,113 jobsKenosha County67,113Sheboygan County: 61,503 jobsSheboygan County61,503Eau Claire County: 58,560 jobsEau Claire County58,560Washington County: 57,059 jobsWashington County57,059Fond du Lac County: 47,665 jobsFond du Lac County47,665Ozaukee County: 42,738 jobsOzaukee County42,738Walworth County: 42,342 jobsWalworth County42,342Wood County: 38,719 jobsWood County38,719Sauk County: 37,101 jobsSauk County37,101Dodge County: 35,558 jobsDodge County35,558St. Croix County: 34,131 jobsSt. Croix County34,131Portage County: 33,856 jobsPortage County33,856Manitowoc County: 33,534 jobsManitowoc County33,534Jefferson County: 33,248 jobsJefferson County33,248Chippewa County: 24,619 jobsChippewa County24,619Columbia County: 22,724 jobsColumbia County22,724Barron County: 22,018 jobsBarron County22,018Monroe County: 21,054 jobsMonroe County21,054Waupaca County: 19,437 jobsWaupaca County19,437Marinette County: 18,324 jobsMarinette County18,324Grant County: 17,905 jobsGrant County17,905Dunn County: 17,585 jobsDunn County17,585Oneida County: 16,173 jobsOneida County16,173Green County: 15,826 jobsGreen County15,826Polk County: 15,826 jobsPolk County15,826Douglas County: 15,757 jobsDouglas County15,757Calumet County: 14,539 jobsCalumet County14,539Door County: 13,727 jobsDoor County13,727Trempealeau County: 13,717 jobsTrempealeau County13,717Shawano County: 12,742 jobsShawano County12,742
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

RankCounties2019
jobs
Change on 2018
1Milwaukee County486,530-0.5%
2Dane County344,363+2.4%
3Waukesha County246,034+0.8%
4Brown County158,546-0.3%
5Outagamie County108,934+0.7%
6Winnebago County93,007-1%
7Racine County75,412-0.5%
8Marathon County71,716+0.5%
9La Crosse County69,458-0.6%
10Rock County67,791+1.1%
11Kenosha County67,113+0.9%
12Sheboygan County61,503-0%
13Eau Claire County58,560+0.1%
14Washington County57,059+0.5%
15Fond du Lac County47,665+0.9%
16Ozaukee County42,738-0.2%
17Walworth County42,342+0.3%
18Wood County38,719+0.3%
19Sauk County37,101+0.9%
20Dodge County35,558-0.2%
21St. Croix County34,131-0.2%
22Portage County33,856+0.1%
23Manitowoc County33,534+0.2%
24Jefferson County33,248+0.1%
25Chippewa County24,619+0.9%
26Columbia County22,724-0.1%
27Barron County22,018-1.8%
28Monroe County21,054+0.4%
29Waupaca County19,437-0.7%
30Marinette County18,324-0.1%
31Grant County17,905+0.1%
32Dunn County17,585-0.3%
33Oneida County16,173-1.6%
34Green County15,826-0.6%
34Polk County15,826+0.1%
36Douglas County15,757-0.3%
37Calumet County14,539+4.1%
38Door County13,727-0%
39Trempealeau County13,717-2.2%
40Shawano County12,742+0.1%
41Clark County11,105-0.4%
42Lincoln County10,887-1.8%
43Iowa County10,371+1.1%
44Pierce County10,329-0.8%
45Juneau County9,409+0.5%
46Oconto County8,909-1.3%
47Vernon County8,799+0.4%
48Jackson County8,753-2%
49Vilas County8,145+1.9%
50Taylor County8,144+0.5%
51Ashland County8,092+0.3%
52Langlade County7,414+0.1%
53Crawford County7,237-2.2%
54Sawyer County7,003+1.3%
55Kewaunee County6,735-3.3%
56Waushara County6,165-1.4%
57Green Lake County5,882-3.3%
58Richland County5,865+0.4%
59Washburn County5,797+0.6%
60Price County5,299-2.1%
61Rusk County4,964-3.7%
62Burnett County4,620-2.7%
63Adams County4,393-0.6%
64Lafayette County4,334+0.8%
65Bayfield County4,174-0.5%
66Marquette County3,970+1.1%
67Buffalo County3,844+0.8%
68Forest County3,215+2.5%
69Pepin County2,251-0.9%
70Menominee County2,050-1.5%
71Iron County1,655+1.1%
72Florence County1,040-1.6%

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/2019/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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019. 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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019.

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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_wisconsin_by_2019,
  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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/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 Wisconsin by covered employment (QCEW), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2019/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/wisconsin-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Milwaukee County, with 486,530 jobs in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Florence County, with 1,040 jobs in 2019.

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 Wisconsin: more rankings