NextChapter

Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Great Lakes

Ross County saw the biggest improvement in the Great Lakes: its unemployment rate changed −1.7 points over the year, against −0.1 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 Ross County, OH: −1.7 points
  • #2 Ashtabula County, OH: −1.6 points
  • #3 Lorain County, OH: −1.5 points
  • 100 counties ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.1 points across the typical large county.

  1. 1Ross County OH−1.7 points
  2. 2Ashtabula County OH−1.6 points
  3. 3Lorain County OH−1.5 points
  4. 4Clark County OH−1.4 points
  5. 5Cuyahoga County OH−1.4 points
  6. 6Kankakee County IL−1.2 points
  7. 7Lake County OH−1.2 points
  8. 8Medina County OH−1.2 points
  9. 9Geauga County OH−1.2 points
  10. 10Howard County IN−1.1 points

What stands out

  • Cuyahoga County is the largest market in the top ten, with 629,048 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

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    Clark County OH

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    59,387

    Based on 59,387 people in the labor force.

    Clark County job market

  5. 5

    Cuyahoga County OH

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    2.0%
    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    629,048

    Based on 629,048 people in the labor force.

    Cuyahoga County job market

  6. 6

    Kankakee County IL

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.4%
    People in the labor force
    49,774

    Based on 49,774 people in the labor force.

    Kankakee County job market

  7. 7

    Lake County OH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.8%
    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    126,455

    Based on 126,455 people in the labor force.

    Lake County job market

  8. 8

    Medina County OH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.6%
    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    101,039

    Based on 101,039 people in the labor force.

    Medina County job market

  9. 9

    Geauga County OH

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    1.6%
    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,958

    Based on 49,958 people in the labor force.

    Geauga County job market

  10. 10

    Howard County IN

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    4.6%
    A year ago
    5.7%
    People in the labor force
    35,435

    Based on 35,435 people in the labor force.

    Howard County job market

  11. 11

    Peoria County IL

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    84,412

    Based on 84,412 people in the labor force.

    Peoria County job market

  12. 12

    LaSalle County IL

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    49,191

    Based on 49,191 people in the labor force.

    LaSalle County job market

  13. 13

    Vermilion County IL

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    5.5%
    People in the labor force
    30,087

    Based on 30,087 people in the labor force.

    Vermilion County job market

  14. 14

    Knox County IL

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.3%
    A year ago
    5.3%
    People in the labor force
    20,521

    Based on 20,521 people in the labor force.

    Knox County job market

  15. 15

    Macoupin County IL

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    3.6%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    20,380

    Based on 20,380 people in the labor force.

    Macoupin County job market

  16. 16

    Winnebago County IL

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    5.4%
    People in the labor force
    128,413

    Based on 128,413 people in the labor force.

    Winnebago County job market

  17. 17

    Athens County OH

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    4.9%
    People in the labor force
    27,333

    Based on 27,333 people in the labor force.

    Athens County job market

  18. 18

    Ogle County IL

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    3.5%
    A year ago
    4.4%
    People in the labor force
    24,044

    Based on 24,044 people in the labor force.

    Ogle County job market

  19. 19

    Henry County IL

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.1%
    A year ago
    5.0%
    People in the labor force
    23,149

    Based on 23,149 people in the labor force.

    Henry County job market

  20. 20

    Sangamon County IL

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    3.6%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    91,562

    Based on 91,562 people in the labor force.

    Sangamon County job market

  21. 21

    Fulton County OH

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.3%
    People in the labor force
    20,594

    Based on 20,594 people in the labor force.

    Fulton County job market

  22. 22

    Lucas County OH

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.2%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    198,169

    Based on 198,169 people in the labor force.

    Lucas County job market

  23. 23

    Scioto County OH

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.7%
    A year ago
    5.6%
    People in the labor force
    28,767

    Based on 28,767 people in the labor force.

    Scioto County job market

  24. 24

    Lake County IL

    −0.8 points

    Unemployment now
    3.6%
    A year ago
    4.4%
    People in the labor force
    365,784

    Based on 365,784 people in the labor force.

    Lake County job market

  25. 25

    Kane County IL

    −0.8 points

    Unemployment now
    3.6%
    A year ago
    4.4%
    People in the labor force
    270,480

    Based on 270,480 people in the labor force.

    Kane County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Ross County OH−1.7 points31,513
2Ashtabula County OH−1.6 points44,296
3Lorain County OH−1.5 points158,110
4Clark County OH−1.4 points59,387
5Cuyahoga County OH−1.4 points629,048
6Kankakee County IL−1.2 points49,774
7Lake County OH−1.2 points126,455
8Medina County OH−1.2 points101,039
9Geauga County OH−1.2 points49,958
10Howard County IN−1.1 points35,435
11Peoria County IL−1.0 points84,412
12LaSalle County IL−1.0 points49,191
13Vermilion County IL−1.0 points30,087
14Knox County IL−1.0 points20,521
15Macoupin County IL−1.0 points20,380
16Winnebago County IL−0.9 points128,413
17Athens County OH−0.9 points27,333
18Ogle County IL−0.9 points24,044
19Henry County IL−0.9 points23,149
20Sangamon County IL−0.9 points91,562
21Fulton County OH−0.9 points20,594
22Lucas County OH−0.9 points198,169
23Scioto County OH−0.9 points28,767
24Lake County IL−0.8 points365,784
25Kane County IL−0.8 points270,480
26Tazewell County IL−0.8 points63,830
27DeKalb County IL−0.8 points52,345
28St. Clair County IL−0.8 points120,714
29Allen County OH−0.8 points46,840
30Macon County IL−0.8 points43,739
31Jefferson County OH−0.8 points27,674
32Sandusky County OH−0.8 points27,169
33Whiteside County IL−0.8 points26,778
34Boone County IL−0.8 points25,430
35Coles County IL−0.8 points25,108
36Logan County OH−0.8 points22,763
37Hamilton County OH−0.7 points430,532
38Butler County OH−0.7 points196,312
39Muskegon County MI−0.7 points77,809
40Columbiana County OH−0.7 points45,208
41Seneca County OH−0.7 points25,603
42Auglaize County OH−0.7 points23,729
43Madison County IL−0.7 points132,941
44Greene County OH−0.7 points83,492
45Williamson County IL−0.7 points31,807
46Brown County OH−0.7 points20,236
47Lawrence County OH−0.6 points23,757
48Stephenson County IL−0.6 points20,958
49Franklin County OH−0.6 points725,120
50Montgomery County OH−0.6 points255,117
51Champaign County IL−0.6 points110,798
52McLean County IL−0.6 points92,333
53Kendall County IL−0.6 points76,044
54Wood County OH−0.6 points67,973
55Hancock County OH−0.6 points36,097
56Adams County IL−0.6 points33,144
57Pickaway County OH−0.6 points28,674
58Huron County OH−0.6 points28,385
59Shelby County OH−0.6 points23,651
60Holmes County OH−0.6 points21,832
61Summit County OH−0.6 points269,402
62Stark County OH−0.6 points178,700
63Portage County OH−0.6 points84,047
64Miami County OH−0.6 points55,628
65Richland County OH−0.6 points51,669
66Belmont County OH−0.6 points26,413
67Marion County OH−0.6 points26,387
68Tuscola County MI−0.6 points22,580
69Ottawa County OH−0.6 points20,400
70Genesee County MI−0.5 points173,178
71Warren County OH−0.5 points132,655
72Clermont County OH−0.5 points109,926
73Licking County OH−0.5 points91,877
74Fairfield County OH−0.5 points83,516
75Wayne County OH−0.5 points55,150
76Tuscarawas County OH−0.5 points44,568
77Knox County OH−0.5 points30,203
78Ashland County OH−0.5 points24,895
79Jackson County IL−0.5 points24,414
80Clinton County OH−0.5 points22,224
81Mercer County OH−0.5 points22,178
82Madison County OH−0.5 points21,228
83Erie County OH−0.5 points38,377
84Saginaw County MI−0.4 points78,729
85Calhoun County MI−0.4 points58,640
86Washington County OH−0.4 points27,000
87Darke County OH−0.4 points24,988
88Delaware County OH−0.4 points127,769
89Muskingum County OH−0.4 points40,999
90Preble County OH−0.4 points21,451
91Van Buren County MI−0.3 points34,072
92Union County OH−0.3 points38,434
93Montcalm County MI−0.3 points28,996
94Monroe County MI−0.3 points70,767
95Berrien County MI−0.3 points69,803
96Shiawassee County MI−0.3 points31,180
97Ionia County MI−0.3 points29,210
98Isabella County MI−0.3 points29,204
99Branch County MI−0.3 points21,354
100Ingham County MI−0.2 points139,224

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 the great lakes?
Ross County saw the biggest improvement in the Great Lakes: its unemployment rate changed −1.7 points over the year, against −0.1 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 in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-great-lakes

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

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

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