{"h1":"Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Southeast","faq":[{"a":"Orangeburg County saw the biggest improvement in the Southeast: its unemployment rate changed −1.6 points over the year, against −0.1 points for the typical large county.","q":"Which county ranks first: counties where unemployment fell the most in the southeast?"},{"a":"100 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 100 entries.","q":"How many counties are ranked?"},{"a":"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.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"Orangeburg County saw the biggest improvement in the Southeast: its unemployment rate changed −1.6 points over the year, against −0.1 points for the typical large county.","minN":20000,"rows":[{"n":35532,"bar":1,"key":"45075","sub":"SC","href":"/places/south-carolina/county/orangeburg-county","name":"Orangeburg County","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Unemployment now","value":"4.8%"},{"label":"A year ago","value":"6.4%"},{"label":"People in the labor force","value":"35,532"}],"value":-1.600000000000001,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"−1.6 points"},{"n":70271,"bar":0.7499999999999996,"key":"37159","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/county/rowan-county","name":"Rowan County","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Unemployment now","value":"3.1%"},{"label":"A year ago","value":"4.3%"},{"label":"People in the labor 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