Chester County is leading the nation in average weekly wage growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which just released national employment statistics for the first quarter of 2014.

The average weekly wage in Chester County for the first quarter of 2014 was $1,415 – an increase of 13.9 percent over the first quarter in 2013.  The BLS says this was the fastest wage increase among the nation’s largest counties.

Employment rose last year in 13 of the 19 largest Pennsylvania counties. The statistics are also strong for Chester County’s neighbors.

Sheila Watkins, regional commissioner for the BLS, said Lancaster County’s 1.8 percent employment gain was the fastest in Pennsylvania.  Delaware County followed with an increase of 1.2 percent.

Chester County’s $1,415 average weekly pay check is the highest average weekly wage among the 19 largest counties in the Commonwealth.

Neighboring Montgomery County follows at $1,346 and for those in Philadelphia the average weekly pay check is $1,187.  Nationwide, the average weekly wage rose 3.8 percent in the past year to $1,027 in the first quarter of 2014.

The full Bureau of Labor Statistics report is here.

Update: You can also find more about Chester County’s success on Bloomberg.

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Top Photo of Chester County Courtesy of: Photommo via photopin cc