Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Southwest
Question 1
Where are you right now?
Why we ask: a laid-off week and a thinking-about-a-move week look nothing alike. No résumé, no account.
Key facts
- #1 Maverick County, TX: −2.5 points
- #2 Yuma County, AZ: −2.0 points
- #3 Cameron County, TX: −1.6 points
- 55 counties ranked in the Southwest
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: −0.0 points across the typical large county.
- 1Maverick County TX−2.5 points
- 2Yuma County AZ−2.0 points
- 3Cameron County TX−1.6 points
- 4Starr County TX−1.5 points
- 5Clark County NV−0.9 points
- 6Hidalgo County TX−0.8 points
- 7Lyon County NV−0.8 points
- 8Santa Cruz County AZ−0.8 points
- 9Washoe County NV−0.7 points
- 10Carson City NV−0.7 points
What stands out
- Santa Cruz County reaches #8 on a sample of 22,224 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Clark County is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,226,229 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
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
Clark County NV
−0.9 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.8%
- A year ago
- 5.7%
- People in the labor force
- 1,226,229
Based on 1,226,229 people in the labor force.
- 6
Hidalgo County TX
−0.8 points
- Unemployment now
- 5.6%
- A year ago
- 6.4%
- People in the labor force
- 407,230
Based on 407,230 people in the labor force.
- 7
Lyon County NV
−0.8 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.9%
- A year ago
- 4.7%
- People in the labor force
- 30,193
Based on 30,193 people in the labor force.
- 8
Santa Cruz County AZ
−0.8 points
- Unemployment now
- 7.7%
- A year ago
- 8.5%
- People in the labor force
- 22,224
Based on 22,224 people in the labor force.
- 9
Washoe County NV
−0.7 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.5%
- A year ago
- 4.2%
- People in the labor force
- 269,799
Based on 269,799 people in the labor force.
- 10
Carson City NV
−0.7 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.5%
- A year ago
- 4.2%
- People in the labor force
- 28,941
Based on 28,941 people in the labor force.
- 11
Elko County NV
−0.7 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.0%
- A year ago
- 3.7%
- People in the labor force
- 27,526
Based on 27,526 people in the labor force.
- 12
Webb County TX
−0.6 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.1%
- A year ago
- 4.7%
- People in the labor force
- 122,249
Based on 122,249 people in the labor force.
- 13
El Paso County TX
−0.5 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.3%
- A year ago
- 4.8%
- People in the labor force
- 422,861
Based on 422,861 people in the labor force.
- 14
Waller County TX
−0.5 points
- Unemployment now
- 5.1%
- A year ago
- 5.6%
- People in the labor force
- 31,379
Based on 31,379 people in the labor force.
- 15
Douglas County NV
−0.5 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.7%
- A year ago
- 4.2%
- People in the labor force
- 24,177
Based on 24,177 people in the labor force.
- 16
San Patricio County TX
−0.4 points
- Unemployment now
- 5.0%
- A year ago
- 5.4%
- People in the labor force
- 32,960
Based on 32,960 people in the labor force.
- 17
Polk County TX
−0.4 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.8%
- A year ago
- 5.2%
- People in the labor force
- 21,815
Based on 21,815 people in the labor force.
- 18
Val Verde County TX
−0.4 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.8%
- A year ago
- 5.2%
- People in the labor force
- 20,648
Based on 20,648 people in the labor force.
- 19
Erath County TX
−0.4 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.5%
- A year ago
- 3.9%
- People in the labor force
- 24,055
Based on 24,055 people in the labor force.
- 20
Ector County TX
−0.4 points
- Unemployment now
- 3.7%
- A year ago
- 4.1%
- People in the labor force
- 89,051
Based on 89,051 people in the labor force.
- 21
Harris County TX
−0.3 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.6%
- A year ago
- 4.9%
- People in the labor force
- 2,549,337
Based on 2,549,337 people in the labor force.
- 22
Harrison County TX
−0.3 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.6%
- A year ago
- 4.9%
- People in the labor force
- 32,325
Based on 32,325 people in the labor force.
- 23
Jefferson County TX
−0.3 points
- Unemployment now
- 5.7%
- A year ago
- 6.0%
- People in the labor force
- 116,028
Based on 116,028 people in the labor force.
- 24
Liberty County TX
−0.3 points
- Unemployment now
- 5.5%
- A year ago
- 5.8%
- People in the labor force
- 44,803
Based on 44,803 people in the labor force.
- 25
Chambers County TX
−0.3 points
- Unemployment now
- 4.9%
- A year ago
- 5.2%
- People in the labor force
- 27,606
Based on 27,606 people in the labor force.
Full ranking
All 55 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | County | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maverick County TX | −2.5 points | 24,708 |
| 2 | Yuma County AZ | −2.0 points | 101,479 |
| 3 | Cameron County TX | −1.6 points | 188,588 |
| 4 | Starr County TX | −1.5 points | 25,335 |
| 5 | Clark County NV | −0.9 points | 1,226,229 |
| 6 | Hidalgo County TX | −0.8 points | 407,230 |
| 7 | Lyon County NV | −0.8 points | 30,193 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz County AZ | −0.8 points | 22,224 |
| 9 | Washoe County NV | −0.7 points | 269,799 |
| 10 | Carson City NV | −0.7 points | 28,941 |
| 11 | Elko County NV | −0.7 points | 27,526 |
| 12 | Webb County TX | −0.6 points | 122,249 |
| 13 | El Paso County TX | −0.5 points | 422,861 |
| 14 | Waller County TX | −0.5 points | 31,379 |
| 15 | Douglas County NV | −0.5 points | 24,177 |
| 16 | San Patricio County TX | −0.4 points | 32,960 |
| 17 | Polk County TX | −0.4 points | 21,815 |
| 18 | Val Verde County TX | −0.4 points | 20,648 |
| 19 | Erath County TX | −0.4 points | 24,055 |
| 20 | Ector County TX | −0.4 points | 89,051 |
| 21 | Harris County TX | −0.3 points | 2,549,337 |
| 22 | Harrison County TX | −0.3 points | 32,325 |
| 23 | Jefferson County TX | −0.3 points | 116,028 |
| 24 | Liberty County TX | −0.3 points | 44,803 |
| 25 | Chambers County TX | −0.3 points | 27,606 |
| 26 | Dallas County TX | −0.2 points | 1,453,109 |
| 27 | Brazoria County TX | −0.2 points | 203,060 |
| 28 | Brazos County TX | −0.2 points | 138,227 |
| 29 | McLennan County TX | −0.2 points | 132,717 |
| 30 | Rockwall County TX | −0.2 points | 75,844 |
| 31 | Hardin County TX | −0.2 points | 27,613 |
| 32 | Cooke County TX | −0.2 points | 22,800 |
| 33 | Midland County TX | −0.2 points | 105,461 |
| 34 | Bastrop County TX | −0.2 points | 58,703 |
| 35 | Tarrant County TX | −0.1 points | 1,221,984 |
| 36 | Montgomery County TX | −0.1 points | 373,133 |
| 37 | Pinal County AZ | −0.1 points | 223,936 |
| 38 | Galveston County TX | −0.1 points | 183,590 |
| 39 | Victoria County TX | −0.1 points | 42,039 |
| 40 | Henderson County TX | −0.1 points | 37,898 |
| 41 | Navarro County TX | −0.1 points | 24,491 |
| 42 | Denton County TX | −0.1 points | 614,643 |
| 43 | Johnson County TX | −0.1 points | 108,404 |
| 44 | Taylor County TX | −0.1 points | 75,614 |
| 45 | Fort Bend County TX | −0.1 points | 486,124 |
| 46 | Williamson County TX | −0.1 points | 436,738 |
| 47 | Nueces County TX | −0.1 points | 171,423 |
| 48 | Bell County TX | −0.1 points | 168,919 |
| 49 | Smith County TX | −0.1 points | 122,541 |
| 50 | Gregg County TX | −0.1 points | 57,777 |
| 51 | Orange County TX | −0.1 points | 42,682 |
| 52 | Walker County TX | −0.1 points | 30,712 |
| 53 | Nacogdoches County TX | −0.1 points | 28,301 |
| 54 | Cherokee County TX | −0.1 points | 22,071 |
| 55 | Rusk County TX | −0.1 points | 21,763 |
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 southwest?
- Maverick County saw the biggest improvement in the Southwest: its unemployment rate changed −2.5 points over the year, against −0.0 points for the typical large county.
- How many counties are ranked?
- 55 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 55 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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Southwest
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Southwest
- Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Southwest
- Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Southwest
- Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Southwest
- Best cities for junior jobs in the Southwest
- Counties where unemployment fell the most
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Southwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-southwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-southwest">Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Southwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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