NextChapter

Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Mid-Atlantic

Cumberland County saw the biggest improvement in the Mid-Atlantic: its unemployment rate changed −2.2 points over the year, against −0.5 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 Cumberland County, NJ: −2.2 points
  • #2 Salem County, NJ: −2.1 points
  • #3 Essex County, NJ: −2.0 points
  • 97 counties ranked in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.5 points across the typical large county.

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

What stands out

  • Salem County reaches #2 on a sample of 30,511 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

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    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

  6. 6

    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

  7. 7

    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

  8. 8

    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

  9. 9

    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

  10. 10

    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

  11. 11

    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

  12. 12

    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

  13. 13

    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

  14. 14

    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

  15. 15

    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

  16. 16

    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

  17. 17

    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

  18. 18

    Indiana County PA

    −1.5 points

    Unemployment now
    3.1%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    36,424

    Based on 36,424 people in the labor force.

    Indiana County job market

  19. 19

    Hunterdon County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.3%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    68,579

    Based on 68,579 people in the labor force.

    Hunterdon County job market

  20. 20

    Warren County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.8%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    61,186

    Based on 61,186 people in the labor force.

    Warren County job market

  21. 21

    Mercer County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.3%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    46,061

    Based on 46,061 people in the labor force.

    Mercer County job market

  22. 22

    Northumberland County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.1%
    A year ago
    4.5%
    People in the labor force
    44,046

    Based on 44,046 people in the labor force.

    Northumberland County job market

  23. 23

    Carbon County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.8%
    People in the labor force
    33,161

    Based on 33,161 people in the labor force.

    Carbon County job market

  24. 24

    Monmouth County NJ

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.7%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    336,779

    Based on 336,779 people in the labor force.

    Monmouth County job market

  25. 25

    Dauphin County PA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    3.2%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    150,236

    Based on 150,236 people in the labor force.

    Dauphin County job market

Full ranking

All 97 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Cumberland County NJ−2.2 points65,548
2Salem County NJ−2.1 points30,511
3Essex County NJ−2.0 points427,804
4Atlantic County NJ−2.0 points138,374
5Cape May County NJ−1.9 points44,446
6Camden County NJ−1.8 points279,361
7Passaic County NJ−1.8 points275,879
8Mercer County NJ−1.7 points197,461
9Gloucester County NJ−1.7 points168,405
10Union County NJ−1.7 points306,181
11Burlington County NJ−1.6 points252,531
12Middlesex County NJ−1.6 points458,606
13Ocean County NJ−1.6 points291,859
14Hudson County NJ−1.5 points427,066
15District of Columbia DC−1.5 points401,751
16Lehigh County PA−1.5 points202,076
17Sussex County NJ−1.5 points79,575
18Indiana County PA−1.5 points36,424
19Hunterdon County NJ−1.4 points68,579
20Warren County NJ−1.4 points61,186
21Mercer County PA−1.4 points46,061
22Northumberland County PA−1.4 points44,046
23Carbon County PA−1.4 points33,161
24Monmouth County NJ−1.4 points336,779
25Dauphin County PA−1.4 points150,236
26Cambria County PA−1.3 points55,495
27Lycoming County PA−1.3 points52,951
28Mifflin County PA−1.3 points24,037
29Philadelphia County PA−1.3 points802,034
30Bergen County NJ−1.3 points540,988
31Morris County NJ−1.3 points276,643
32Somerset County NJ−1.3 points195,616
33Pike County PA−1.3 points29,091
34Delaware County PA−1.2 points310,040
35Northampton County PA−1.2 points171,493
36Luzerne County PA−1.2 points163,567
37Erie County PA−1.2 points127,408
38Lebanon County PA−1.2 points75,238
39Fayette County PA−1.2 points53,754
40Columbia County PA−1.2 points31,738
41Venango County PA−1.2 points20,355
42Berks County PA−1.2 points222,340
43Lackawanna County PA−1.2 points105,925
44Monroe County PA−1.2 points84,313
45Schuylkill County PA−1.2 points67,087
46Crawford County PA−1.2 points37,094
47Armstrong County PA−1.2 points30,054
48Beaver County PA−1.1 points82,812
49Bucks County PA−1.1 points354,013
50Westmoreland County PA−1.1 points175,059
51Franklin County PA−1.1 points79,406
52Washington County MD−1.1 points70,911
53Blair County PA−1.1 points57,451
54Somerset County PA−1.1 points32,232
55Bradford County PA−1.1 points26,546
56York County PA−1.1 points241,936
57Washington County PA−1.1 points105,259
58Lawrence County PA−1.1 points39,021
59Clearfield County PA−1.1 points35,158
60Allegany County MD−1.1 points24,111
61Perry County PA−1.1 points23,444
62Bedford County PA−1.1 points23,144
63Allegheny County PA−1.0 points651,551
64Montgomery County MD−1.0 points560,766
65Montgomery County PA−1.0 points482,355
66Lancaster County PA−1.0 points297,770
67Cumberland County PA−1.0 points142,162
68Cecil County MD−1.0 points52,675
69Wayne County PA−1.0 points22,371
70Bronx County NY−0.9 points616,496
71Baltimore city MD−0.9 points284,870
72Worcester County MD−0.9 points28,416
73Howard County MD−0.9 points185,084
74Butler County PA−0.9 points101,300
75Wicomico County MD−0.9 points53,791
76Adams County PA−0.9 points51,927
77Baltimore County MD−0.8 points450,376
78Kings County NY−0.8 points1,332,703
79Anne Arundel County MD−0.8 points321,951
80Chester County PA−0.8 points307,859
81Frederick County MD−0.8 points154,555
82Harford County MD−0.8 points143,898
83Centre County PA−0.8 points78,787
84St. Mary's County MD−0.8 points57,828
85Prince George's County MD−0.7 points493,950
86Queen Anne's County MD−0.7 points29,334
87Carroll County MD−0.7 points96,682
88Charles County MD−0.7 points86,867
89Calvert County MD−0.7 points48,329
90Queens County NY−0.6 points1,204,625
91New York County NY−0.6 points963,288
92Richmond County NY−0.6 points245,927
93New Castle County DE−0.5 points299,137
94Sussex County DE−0.4 points120,133
95Pittsylvania County VA−0.2 points27,998
96Arlington County VA−0.1 points149,311
97Alexandria city VA−0.1 points97,772

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 mid-atlantic?
Cumberland County saw the biggest improvement in the Mid-Atlantic: its unemployment rate changed −2.2 points over the year, against −0.5 points for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
97 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 97 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 Mid-Atlantic,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-mid-atlantic

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

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

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