Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that St. Charles County ranked 17th among the 318 largest U.S. counties for its percentage change in employment growth from June 2003 to June 2004.

The county employed 114,800 workers in June 2004, up 4.6 percent from the same month the prior year. The county's average weekly wage was $640, up 3.4 percent from June 2003.

St. Charles County’s ranking placed them above every county in the neighboring states of Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and Kansas for job growth.

“The Bureau’s announcement continues to confirm that St. Charles County is the location of choice for industries to grow and succeed,” stated County Executive Joe Ortwerth.