NextChapter

Counties where unemployment fell the most

Maverick County saw the biggest improvement in the United States: its unemployment rate changed −2.5 points over the year, against −0.2 points for the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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Key facts

  • #1 Maverick County, TX: −2.5 points
  • #2 Cumberland County, NJ: −2.2 points
  • #3 Salem County, NJ: −2.1 points
  • 100 counties ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.2 points across the typical large county.

  1. 1Maverick County TX−2.5 points
  2. 2Cumberland County NJ−2.2 points
  3. 3Salem County NJ−2.1 points
  4. 4Essex County NJ−2.0 points
  5. 5Atlantic County NJ−2.0 points
  6. 6Yuma County AZ−2.0 points
  7. 7Cape May County NJ−1.9 points
  8. 8Camden County NJ−1.8 points
  9. 9Passaic County NJ−1.8 points
  10. 10Mercer County NJ−1.7 points

What stands out

  • Maverick County reaches #1 on a sample of 24,708 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Essex County is the largest market in the top ten, with 427,804 people in the labor force behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

A county where unemployment is falling fastest is a labor market that is improving, whatever its starting point.

How to use it

Look at these counties when you want a market moving in the right direction. Compare with the lowest-unemployment list to see where improvement and a tight market overlap.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Maverick County TX

    −2.5 points

    Unemployment now
    6.2%
    A year ago
    8.7%
    People in the labor force
    24,708

    Based on 24,708 people in the labor force.

    Maverick County job market

  2. 2

    Cumberland County NJ

    −2.2 points

    Unemployment now
    6.1%
    A year ago
    8.3%
    People in the labor force
    65,548

    Based on 65,548 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  3. 3

    Salem County NJ

    −2.1 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.2%
    People in the labor force
    30,511

    Based on 30,511 people in the labor force.

    Salem County job market

  4. 4

    Essex County NJ

    −2.0 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.1%
    People in the labor force
    427,804

    Based on 427,804 people in the labor force.

    Essex County job market

  5. 5

    Atlantic County NJ

    −2.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.8%
    A year ago
    6.8%
    People in the labor force
    138,374

    Based on 138,374 people in the labor force.

    Atlantic County job market

  6. 6

    Yuma County AZ

    −2.0 points

    Unemployment now
    14.5%
    A year ago
    16.5%
    People in the labor force
    101,479

    Based on 101,479 people in the labor force.

    Yuma County job market

  7. 7

    Cape May County NJ

    −1.9 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    7.0%
    People in the labor force
    44,446

    Based on 44,446 people in the labor force.

    Cape May County job market

  8. 8

    Camden County NJ

    −1.8 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    6.3%
    People in the labor force
    279,361

    Based on 279,361 people in the labor force.

    Camden County job market

  9. 9

    Passaic County NJ

    −1.8 points

    Unemployment now
    4.7%
    A year ago
    6.5%
    People in the labor force
    275,879

    Based on 275,879 people in the labor force.

    Passaic County job market

  10. 10

    Mercer County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.9%
    People in the labor force
    197,461

    Based on 197,461 people in the labor force.

    Mercer County job market

  11. 11

    Ross County OH

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.9%
    People in the labor force
    31,513

    Based on 31,513 people in the labor force.

    Ross County job market

  12. 12

    Gloucester County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    5.6%
    People in the labor force
    168,405

    Based on 168,405 people in the labor force.

    Gloucester County job market

  13. 13

    Union County NJ

    −1.7 points

    Unemployment now
    4.4%
    A year ago
    6.1%
    People in the labor force
    306,181

    Based on 306,181 people in the labor force.

    Union County job market

  14. 14

    Burlington County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.4%
    People in the labor force
    252,531

    Based on 252,531 people in the labor force.

    Burlington County job market

  15. 15

    Orangeburg County SC

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.8%
    A year ago
    6.4%
    People in the labor force
    35,532

    Based on 35,532 people in the labor force.

    Orangeburg County job market

  16. 16

    Ashtabula County OH

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    1.9%
    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    44,296

    Based on 44,296 people in the labor force.

    Ashtabula County job market

  17. 17

    Middlesex County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.8%
    People in the labor force
    458,606

    Based on 458,606 people in the labor force.

    Middlesex County job market

  18. 18

    Ocean County NJ

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    5.6%
    People in the labor force
    291,859

    Based on 291,859 people in the labor force.

    Ocean County job market

  19. 19

    Cameron County TX

    −1.6 points

    Unemployment now
    5.9%
    A year ago
    7.5%
    People in the labor force
    188,588

    Based on 188,588 people in the labor force.

    Cameron County job market

  20. 20

    Hudson County NJ

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.3%
    People in the labor force
    427,066

    Based on 427,066 people in the labor force.

    Hudson County job market

  21. 21

    District of Columbia DC

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    5.3%
    A year ago
    6.8%
    People in the labor force
    401,751

    Based on 401,751 people in the labor force.

    District of Columbia job market

  22. 22

    Lehigh County PA

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.5%
    A year ago
    5.0%
    People in the labor force
    202,076

    Based on 202,076 people in the labor force.

    Lehigh County job market

  23. 23

    Lorain County OH

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    1.9%
    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    158,110

    Based on 158,110 people in the labor force.

    Lorain County job market

  24. 24

    Sussex County NJ

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.7%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    79,575

    Based on 79,575 people in the labor force.

    Sussex County job market

  25. 25

    Starr County TX

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    8.3%
    A year ago
    9.8%
    People in the labor force
    25,335

    Based on 25,335 people in the labor force.

    Starr County job market

Full ranking

All 100 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Maverick County TX−2.5 points24,708
2Cumberland County NJ−2.2 points65,548
3Salem County NJ−2.1 points30,511
4Essex County NJ−2.0 points427,804
5Atlantic County NJ−2.0 points138,374
6Yuma County AZ−2.0 points101,479
7Cape May County NJ−1.9 points44,446
8Camden County NJ−1.8 points279,361
9Passaic County NJ−1.8 points275,879
10Mercer County NJ−1.7 points197,461
11Ross County OH−1.7 points31,513
12Gloucester County NJ−1.7 points168,405
13Union County NJ−1.7 points306,181
14Burlington County NJ−1.6 points252,531
15Orangeburg County SC−1.6 points35,532
16Ashtabula County OH−1.6 points44,296
17Middlesex County NJ−1.6 points458,606
18Ocean County NJ−1.6 points291,859
19Cameron County TX−1.6 points188,588
20Hudson County NJ−1.5 points427,066
21District of Columbia DC−1.5 points401,751
22Lehigh County PA−1.5 points202,076
23Lorain County OH−1.5 points158,110
24Sussex County NJ−1.5 points79,575
25Starr County TX−1.5 points25,335
26Indiana County PA−1.5 points36,424
27Los Angeles County CA−1.4 points5,031,013
28Hunterdon County NJ−1.4 points68,579
29Warren County NJ−1.4 points61,186
30Clark County OH−1.4 points59,387
31Mercer County PA−1.4 points46,061
32Columbia County OR−1.4 points26,694
33Cuyahoga County OH−1.4 points629,048
34Northumberland County PA−1.4 points44,046
35Carbon County PA−1.4 points33,161
36Monmouth County NJ−1.4 points336,779
37Dauphin County PA−1.4 points150,236
38Cambria County PA−1.3 points55,495
39Lycoming County PA−1.3 points52,951
40Mifflin County PA−1.3 points24,037
41Philadelphia County PA−1.3 points802,034
42Bergen County NJ−1.3 points540,988
43Morris County NJ−1.3 points276,643
44Somerset County NJ−1.3 points195,616
45Linn County OR−1.3 points62,850
46Pike County PA−1.3 points29,091
47Delaware County PA−1.2 points310,040
48Northampton County PA−1.2 points171,493
49Luzerne County PA−1.2 points163,567
50Erie County PA−1.2 points127,408
51Lebanon County PA−1.2 points75,238
52Fayette County PA−1.2 points53,754
53Kankakee County IL−1.2 points49,774
54Cheshire County NH−1.2 points40,060
55Josephine County OR−1.2 points35,480
56Columbia County PA−1.2 points31,738
57Sullivan County NH−1.2 points21,939
58Venango County PA−1.2 points20,355
59Lake County OH−1.2 points126,455
60Merrimack County NH−1.2 points82,494
61Strafford County NH−1.2 points77,884
62Carroll County NH−1.2 points26,290
63Berks County PA−1.2 points222,340
64Lackawanna County PA−1.2 points105,925
65Medina County OH−1.2 points101,039
66Monroe County PA−1.2 points84,313
67Rowan County NC−1.2 points70,271
68Schuylkill County PA−1.2 points67,087
69Geauga County OH−1.2 points49,958
70Grafton County NH−1.2 points49,742
71Crawford County PA−1.2 points37,094
72Laurens County SC−1.2 points33,345
73Armstrong County PA−1.2 points30,054
74Georgetown County SC−1.2 points28,071
75Washington County OR−1.1 points345,574
76Beaver County PA−1.1 points82,812
77Douglas County OR−1.1 points46,914
78Howard County IN−1.1 points35,435
79Coos County OR−1.1 points26,940
80Crittenden County AR−1.1 points20,886
81Bucks County PA−1.1 points354,013
82Rockingham County NH−1.1 points187,440
83Westmoreland County PA−1.1 points175,059
84Franklin County PA−1.1 points79,406
85Washington County MD−1.1 points70,911
86Blair County PA−1.1 points57,451
87Yamhill County OR−1.1 points57,103
88Somerset County PA−1.1 points32,232
89Bradford County PA−1.1 points26,546
90Belknap County NH−1.1 points33,358
91York County PA−1.1 points241,936
92Hillsborough County NH−1.1 points238,420
93Washington County PA−1.1 points105,259
94Lawrence County PA−1.1 points39,021
95Umatilla County OR−1.1 points37,926
96Clearfield County PA−1.1 points35,158
97Klamath County OR−1.1 points29,957
98Jefferson County AR−1.1 points24,533
99Allegany County MD−1.1 points24,111
100Perry County PA−1.1 points23,444

How this ranking works

A county's score is the change in its unemployment rate over twelve months, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The biggest fall ranks first.

Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force whose rate fell are ranked. Month-to-month local estimates can be revised, so small differences are not meaningful.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (not seasonally adjusted). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which county ranks first: counties where unemployment fell the most?
Maverick County saw the biggest improvement in the United States: its unemployment rate changed −2.5 points over the year, against −0.2 points for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
100 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is the change in its unemployment rate over twelve months, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The biggest fall ranks first. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force whose rate fell are ranked. Month-to-month local estimates can be revised, so small differences are not meaningful.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties where unemployment fell the most,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most">Counties where unemployment fell the most (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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