NextChapter

Counties where unemployment fell the most in the West Coast

Los Angeles County saw the biggest improvement in the West Coast: its unemployment rate changed −1.4 points over the year, against −0.4 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 Los Angeles County, CA: −1.4 points
  • #2 Columbia County, OR: −1.4 points
  • #3 Linn County, OR: −1.3 points
  • 77 counties ranked in the West Coast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: −0.4 points across the typical large county.

  1. 1Los Angeles County CA−1.4 points
  2. 2Columbia County OR−1.4 points
  3. 3Linn County OR−1.3 points
  4. 4Josephine County OR−1.2 points
  5. 5Washington County OR−1.1 points
  6. 6Douglas County OR−1.1 points
  7. 7Coos County OR−1.1 points
  8. 8Yamhill County OR−1.1 points
  9. 9Umatilla County OR−1.1 points
  10. 10Klamath County OR−1.1 points

What stands out

  • Los Angeles County is the largest market in the top ten, with 5,031,013 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

    Los Angeles County CA

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    4.5%
    A year ago
    5.9%
    People in the labor force
    5,031,013

    Based on 5,031,013 people in the labor force.

    Los Angeles County job market

  2. 2

    Columbia County OR

    −1.4 points

    Unemployment now
    4.8%
    A year ago
    6.2%
    People in the labor force
    26,694

    Based on 26,694 people in the labor force.

    Columbia County job market

  3. 3

    Linn County OR

    −1.3 points

    Unemployment now
    4.4%
    A year ago
    5.7%
    People in the labor force
    62,850

    Based on 62,850 people in the labor force.

    Linn County job market

  4. 4

    Josephine County OR

    −1.2 points

    Unemployment now
    5.6%
    A year ago
    6.8%
    People in the labor force
    35,480

    Based on 35,480 people in the labor force.

    Josephine County job market

  5. 5

    Washington County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    4.1%
    A year ago
    5.2%
    People in the labor force
    345,574

    Based on 345,574 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  6. 6

    Douglas County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    5.1%
    A year ago
    6.2%
    People in the labor force
    46,914

    Based on 46,914 people in the labor force.

    Douglas County job market

  7. 7

    Coos County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    4.8%
    A year ago
    5.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,940

    Based on 26,940 people in the labor force.

    Coos County job market

  8. 8

    Yamhill County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    5.0%
    People in the labor force
    57,103

    Based on 57,103 people in the labor force.

    Yamhill County job market

  9. 9

    Umatilla County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    37,926

    Based on 37,926 people in the labor force.

    Umatilla County job market

  10. 10

    Klamath County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    5.5%
    A year ago
    6.6%
    People in the labor force
    29,957

    Based on 29,957 people in the labor force.

    Klamath County job market

  11. 11

    Lincoln County OR

    −1.1 points

    Unemployment now
    4.9%
    A year ago
    6.0%
    People in the labor force
    21,259

    Based on 21,259 people in the labor force.

    Lincoln County job market

  12. 12

    Multnomah County OR

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.3%
    A year ago
    5.3%
    People in the labor force
    469,250

    Based on 469,250 people in the labor force.

    Multnomah County job market

  13. 13

    Clackamas County OR

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.1%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    227,400

    Based on 227,400 people in the labor force.

    Clackamas County job market

  14. 14

    Lane County OR

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.4%
    A year ago
    5.4%
    People in the labor force
    188,288

    Based on 188,288 people in the labor force.

    Lane County job market

  15. 15

    Clatsop County OR

    −1.0 points

    Unemployment now
    4.1%
    A year ago
    5.1%
    People in the labor force
    20,406

    Based on 20,406 people in the labor force.

    Clatsop County job market

  16. 16

    Marion County OR

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    4.9%
    People in the labor force
    187,060

    Based on 187,060 people in the labor force.

    Marion County job market

  17. 17

    Polk County OR

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    4.9%
    People in the labor force
    47,883

    Based on 47,883 people in the labor force.

    Polk County job market

  18. 18

    Benton County OR

    −0.9 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    4.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,221

    Based on 49,221 people in the labor force.

    Benton County job market

  19. 19

    Imperial County CA

    −0.8 points

    Unemployment now
    20.8%
    A year ago
    21.6%
    People in the labor force
    76,185

    Based on 76,185 people in the labor force.

    Imperial County job market

  20. 20

    Deschutes County OR

    −0.8 points

    Unemployment now
    3.9%
    A year ago
    4.7%
    People in the labor force
    111,956

    Based on 111,956 people in the labor force.

    Deschutes County job market

  21. 21

    Jackson County OR

    −0.8 points

    Unemployment now
    4.7%
    A year ago
    5.5%
    People in the labor force
    109,826

    Based on 109,826 people in the labor force.

    Jackson County job market

  22. 22

    Clallam County WA

    −0.7 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    30,531

    Based on 30,531 people in the labor force.

    Clallam County job market

  23. 23

    Grays Harbor County WA

    −0.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.3%
    A year ago
    4.9%
    People in the labor force
    29,423

    Based on 29,423 people in the labor force.

    Grays Harbor County job market

  24. 24

    Island County WA

    −0.6 points

    Unemployment now
    3.4%
    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    35,421

    Based on 35,421 people in the labor force.

    Island County job market

  25. 25

    Grant County WA

    −0.6 points

    Unemployment now
    4.0%
    A year ago
    4.6%
    People in the labor force
    47,249

    Based on 47,249 people in the labor force.

    Grant County job market

Full ranking

All 77 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Los Angeles County CA−1.4 points5,031,013
2Columbia County OR−1.4 points26,694
3Linn County OR−1.3 points62,850
4Josephine County OR−1.2 points35,480
5Washington County OR−1.1 points345,574
6Douglas County OR−1.1 points46,914
7Coos County OR−1.1 points26,940
8Yamhill County OR−1.1 points57,103
9Umatilla County OR−1.1 points37,926
10Klamath County OR−1.1 points29,957
11Lincoln County OR−1.1 points21,259
12Multnomah County OR−1.0 points469,250
13Clackamas County OR−1.0 points227,400
14Lane County OR−1.0 points188,288
15Clatsop County OR−1.0 points20,406
16Marion County OR−0.9 points187,060
17Polk County OR−0.9 points47,883
18Benton County OR−0.9 points49,221
19Imperial County CA−0.8 points76,185
20Deschutes County OR−0.8 points111,956
21Jackson County OR−0.8 points109,826
22Clallam County WA−0.7 points30,531
23Grays Harbor County WA−0.6 points29,423
24Island County WA−0.6 points35,421
25Grant County WA−0.6 points47,249
26Cowlitz County WA−0.6 points46,732
27Thurston County WA−0.5 points144,060
28Clark County WA−0.5 points253,367
29Lewis County WA−0.4 points33,964
30Spokane County WA−0.4 points261,925
31Whatcom County WA−0.4 points113,440
32Franklin County WA−0.4 points47,126
33Mendocino County CA−0.4 points37,131
34Mason County WA−0.4 points25,072
35Santa Cruz County CA−0.3 points138,703
36Merced County CA−0.3 points125,119
37Santa Clara County CA−0.3 points1,040,676
38San Francisco County CA−0.3 points501,440
39San Joaquin County CA−0.3 points377,180
40Sonoma County CA−0.3 points247,201
41Benton County WA−0.3 points105,654
42Skagit County WA−0.3 points60,255
43Douglas County WA−0.3 points20,670
44Kern County CA−0.3 points417,030
45San Diego County CA−0.2 points1,656,661
46San Bernardino County CA−0.2 points1,029,285
47Alameda County CA−0.2 points860,492
48Sacramento County CA−0.2 points784,917
49Contra Costa County CA−0.2 points577,458
50Stanislaus County CA−0.2 points255,342
51Solano County CA−0.2 points218,875
52Yakima County WA−0.2 points129,429
53Marin County CA−0.2 points123,425
54Kitsap County WA−0.2 points120,336
55Shasta County CA−0.2 points81,542
56Sutter County CA−0.2 points46,200
57Yuba County CA−0.2 points36,193
58San Benito County CA−0.2 points35,200
59San Mateo County CA−0.2 points410,701
60Chelan County WA−0.2 points42,163
61Walla Walla County WA−0.2 points29,289
62Kittitas County WA−0.2 points22,251
63Riverside County CA−0.2 points1,193,416
64Fresno County CA−0.2 points478,446
65Ventura County CA−0.2 points418,002
66Tulare County CA−0.2 points217,383
67Butte County CA−0.2 points90,577
68Tehama County CA−0.2 points27,799
69Orange County CA−0.1 points1,615,890
70San Luis Obispo County CA−0.1 points133,280
71Nevada County CA−0.1 points47,496
72Santa Barbara County CA−0.1 points226,288
73Placer County CA−0.1 points208,548
74Yolo County CA−0.1 points112,553
75El Dorado County CA−0.1 points89,933
76Napa County CA−0.1 points74,282
77Kings County CA−0.1 points59,560

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 west coast?
Los Angeles County saw the biggest improvement in the West Coast: its unemployment rate changed −1.4 points over the year, against −0.4 points for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
77 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 77 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 West Coast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-west-coast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-where-unemployment-fell-the-most-in-the-west-coast">Counties where unemployment fell the most in the West Coast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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