NextChapter

Counties where unemployment fell the most in New England

Cheshire County saw the biggest improvement in New England: its unemployment rate changed −1.2 points over the year, against −0.3 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 Cheshire County, NH: −1.2 points
  • #2 Sullivan County, NH: −1.2 points
  • #3 Merrimack County, NH: −1.2 points
  • 24 counties ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.3 points across the typical large county.

  1. 1Cheshire County NH−1.2 points
  2. 2Sullivan County NH−1.2 points
  3. 3Merrimack County NH−1.2 points
  4. 4Strafford County NH−1.2 points
  5. 5Carroll County NH−1.2 points
  6. 6Grafton County NH−1.2 points
  7. 7Rockingham County NH−1.1 points
  8. 8Belknap County NH−1.1 points
  9. 9Hillsborough County NH−1.1 points
  10. 10Providence County RI−0.9 points

What stands out

  • Sullivan County reaches #2 on a sample of 21,939 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Providence County is the largest market in the top ten, with 350,743 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

    Cheshire County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.9%
    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    40,060

    Based on 40,060 people in the labor force.

    Cheshire County job market

  2. 2

    Sullivan County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.5%
    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    21,939

    Based on 21,939 people in the labor force.

    Sullivan County job market

  3. 3

    Merrimack County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.7%
    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    82,494

    Based on 82,494 people in the labor force.

    Merrimack County job market

  4. 4

    Strafford County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.7%
    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    77,884

    Based on 77,884 people in the labor force.

    Strafford County job market

  5. 5

    Carroll County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.7%
    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,290

    Based on 26,290 people in the labor force.

    Carroll County job market

  6. 6

    Grafton County NH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.6%
    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,742

    Based on 49,742 people in the labor force.

    Grafton County job market

  7. 7

    Rockingham County NH

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    2.1%
    A year ago
    3.2%
    People in the labor force
    187,440

    Based on 187,440 people in the labor force.

    Rockingham County job market

  8. 8

    Belknap County NH

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    1.7%
    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    33,358

    Based on 33,358 people in the labor force.

    Belknap County job market

  9. 9

    Hillsborough County NH

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    2.2%
    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    238,420

    Based on 238,420 people in the labor force.

    Hillsborough County job market

  10. 10

    Providence County RI

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    3.3%
    A year ago
    4.2%
    People in the labor force
    350,743

    Based on 350,743 people in the labor force.

    Providence County job market

  11. 11

    Kent County RI

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    2.5%
    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    94,170

    Based on 94,170 people in the labor force.

    Kent County job market

  12. 12

    Newport County RI

    −0.7 points

    Unemployment now
    2.3%
    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    41,772

    Based on 41,772 people in the labor force.

    Newport County job market

  13. 13

    Washington County RI

    −0.6 points

    Unemployment now
    2.2%
    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    68,079

    Based on 68,079 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  14. 14

    Bristol County RI

    −0.5 points

    Unemployment now
    2.4%
    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,320

    Based on 26,320 people in the labor force.

    Bristol County job market

  15. 15

    Hampshire County MA

    −0.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    4.2%
    People in the labor force
    84,724

    Based on 84,724 people in the labor force.

    Hampshire County job market

  16. 16

    Middlesex County MA

    −0.3 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    932,913

    Based on 932,913 people in the labor force.

    Middlesex County job market

  17. 17

    Worcester County MA

    −0.3 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    470,233

    Based on 470,233 people in the labor force.

    Worcester County job market

  18. 18

    Suffolk County MA

    −0.3 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    465,838

    Based on 465,838 people in the labor force.

    Suffolk County job market

  19. 19

    Essex County MA

    −0.2 points

    Unemployment now
    4.3%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    439,969

    Based on 439,969 people in the labor force.

    Essex County job market

  20. 20

    Bristol County MA

    −0.2 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    313,254

    Based on 313,254 people in the labor force.

    Bristol County job market

  21. 21

    Plymouth County MA

    −0.2 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    4.4%
    People in the labor force
    292,998

    Based on 292,998 people in the labor force.

    Plymouth County job market

  22. 22

    Norfolk County MA

    −0.2 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    415,556

    Based on 415,556 people in the labor force.

    Norfolk County job market

  23. 23

    Berkshire County MA

    −0.1 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    64,387

    Based on 64,387 people in the labor force.

    Berkshire County job market

  24. 24

    Chittenden County VT

    −0.1 points

    Unemployment now
    2.2%
    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    96,362

    Based on 96,362 people in the labor force.

    Chittenden County job market

Full ranking

All 24 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Cheshire County NH−1.2 points40,060
2Sullivan County NH−1.2 points21,939
3Merrimack County NH−1.2 points82,494
4Strafford County NH−1.2 points77,884
5Carroll County NH−1.2 points26,290
6Grafton County NH−1.2 points49,742
7Rockingham County NH−1.1 points187,440
8Belknap County NH−1.1 points33,358
9Hillsborough County NH−1.1 points238,420
10Providence County RI−0.9 points350,743
11Kent County RI−0.9 points94,170
12Newport County RI−0.7 points41,772
13Washington County RI−0.6 points68,079
14Bristol County RI−0.5 points26,320
15Hampshire County MA−0.4 points84,724
16Middlesex County MA−0.3 points932,913
17Worcester County MA−0.3 points470,233
18Suffolk County MA−0.3 points465,838
19Essex County MA−0.2 points439,969
20Bristol County MA−0.2 points313,254
21Plymouth County MA−0.2 points292,998
22Norfolk County MA−0.2 points415,556
23Berkshire County MA−0.1 points64,387
24Chittenden County VT−0.1 points96,362

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 in new england?
Cheshire County saw the biggest improvement in New England: its unemployment rate changed −1.2 points over the year, against −0.3 points for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
24 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 24 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 in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-new-england

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

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

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