Heather, a county staff member, briefed commissioners on recent Department of Commerce employment and wage figures for Pratt County, noting modest increases and the data’s use in state and federal grant calculations.
Heather said 4,360 people were employed in Pratt County in May; she reported an average hourly wage of $23.29 and an average annual wage approximately $48,044. She said the entry‑level hourly wage averaged $12.63. She reported the median hourly wage at $18.76 and the median annual wage at about $39,012.
Heather told commissioners the county’s unemployment rate (for the June release) was 4.0 percent, “two‑tenths higher than the state average,” which she gave as 3.8 percent.
Heather said the Department of Commerce release includes occupational breakdowns and that she can provide industry‑specific wage tables to businesses or others conducting wage studies.
Commissioners did not take formal action on the report; Heather presented the figures as informational and invited questions.