Benton County led the nation in average weekly wage growth in the last quarter of 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The federal agency on Wednesday released its county employment and wage summary outlining fourth quarter changes in 339 of the largest U.S. counties. Benton County's average weekly wage increased 9.9 percent to $996, or $24.90 an hour.
The U.S. average weekly wage increased 3.5 percent over the year to $1,035. Washington County's weekly wage increased 4.3 percent to $896, or $22.40 an hour.
Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas, said the jump is not surprising.
"There has been pent-up wage issues," she said. "When unemployment is so low, you have to raise wages to keep good employees."
The area's unemployment rate has consistently been at least a point below national levels. Northwest Arkansas' unemployment rate was 4 percent in April; the national rate was 5.1 percent. The area's metropolitan statistical area includes Benton, Washington and Madison counties in Arkansas and McDonald County, Mo.
Deck said employers added 6,106 jobs in Benton County and 3,020 in Washington County last year.
Business on 06/19/2015