NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment

Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the United States among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.8% for the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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.

Get new professional jobs by email

We’ll email you when new matches are posted. No account needed.

Key facts

  • #1 Sullivan County, NH: 1.5%
  • #2 Minnehaha County, SD: 1.6%
  • #3 Medina County, OH: 1.6%
  • 100 counties ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.8% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Sullivan County NH1.5%
  2. 2Minnehaha County SD1.6%
  3. 3Medina County OH1.6%
  4. 4Geauga County OH1.6%
  5. 5Grafton County NH1.6%
  6. 6Lincoln County SD1.6%
  7. 7Grand Forks County ND1.6%
  8. 8Merrimack County NH1.7%
  9. 9Strafford County NH1.7%
  10. 10Pennington County SD1.7%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Sullivan County leads on 1.5%, and #10 Pennington County is at 1.7%.
  • Sullivan County reaches #1 on a sample of 21,939 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Minnehaha County is the largest market in the top ten, with 118,504 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

The unemployment rate shows how much slack a county's labor market has. A low rate means employers are competing for the people who are available.

How to use it

If you are looking for work, a low-rate county is a sign that employers there are hiring. Check the county page for its largest employers and recent layoffs.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Sullivan County NH

    1.5%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    21,939
    Population
    43,529

    Based on 21,939 people in the labor force.

    Sullivan County job market

  2. 2

    Minnehaha County SD

    1.6%

    A year ago
    1.8%
    People in the labor force
    118,504
    Population
    200,689

    Based on 118,504 people in the labor force.

    Minnehaha County job market

  3. 3

    Medina County OH

    1.6%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    101,039
    Population
    183,049

    Based on 101,039 people in the labor force.

    Medina County job market

  4. 4

    Geauga County OH

    1.6%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,958
    Population
    95,479

    Based on 49,958 people in the labor force.

    Geauga County job market

  5. 5

    Grafton County NH

    1.6%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,742
    Population
    91,759

    Based on 49,742 people in the labor force.

    Grafton County job market

  6. 6

    Lincoln County SD

    1.6%

    A year ago
    1.7%
    People in the labor force
    43,069
    Population
    68,286

    Based on 43,069 people in the labor force.

    Lincoln County job market

  7. 7

    Grand Forks County ND

    1.6%

    A year ago
    2.0%
    People in the labor force
    40,583
    Population
    72,764

    Based on 40,583 people in the labor force.

    Grand Forks County job market

  8. 8

    Merrimack County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    82,494
    Population
    155,018

    Based on 82,494 people in the labor force.

    Merrimack County job market

  9. 9

    Strafford County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    77,884
    Population
    131,743

    Based on 77,884 people in the labor force.

    Strafford County job market

  10. 10

    Pennington County SD

    1.7%

    A year ago
    1.8%
    People in the labor force
    59,596
    Population
    112,081

    Based on 59,596 people in the labor force.

    Pennington County job market

  11. 11

    Burleigh County ND

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.0%
    People in the labor force
    53,521
    Population
    98,986

    Based on 53,521 people in the labor force.

    Burleigh County job market

  12. 12

    Ward County ND

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.2%
    People in the labor force
    36,423
    Population
    69,232

    Based on 36,423 people in the labor force.

    Ward County job market

  13. 13

    Belknap County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    33,358
    Population
    64,300

    Based on 33,358 people in the labor force.

    Belknap County job market

  14. 14

    Carroll County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,290
    Population
    51,259

    Based on 26,290 people in the labor force.

    Carroll County job market

  15. 15

    Lake County OH

    1.8%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    126,455
    Population
    232,101

    Based on 126,455 people in the labor force.

    Lake County job market

  16. 16

    Cass County ND

    1.8%

    A year ago
    2.1%
    People in the labor force
    120,301
    Population
    189,286

    Based on 120,301 people in the labor force.

    Cass County job market

  17. 17

    Miami-Dade County FL

    1.9%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    1,452,691
    Population
    2,685,296

    Based on 1,452,691 people in the labor force.

    Miami-Dade County job market

  18. 18

    Lorain County OH

    1.9%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    158,110
    Population
    314,588

    Based on 158,110 people in the labor force.

    Lorain County job market

  19. 19

    Ashtabula County OH

    1.9%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    44,296
    Population
    97,343

    Based on 44,296 people in the labor force.

    Ashtabula County job market

  20. 20

    Cheshire County NH

    1.9%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    40,060
    Population
    76,945

    Based on 40,060 people in the labor force.

    Cheshire County job market

  21. 21

    Cuyahoga County OH

    2.0%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    629,048
    Population
    1,249,418

    Based on 629,048 people in the labor force.

    Cuyahoga County job market

  22. 22

    Gallatin County MT

    2.0%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    78,176
    Population
    122,194

    Based on 78,176 people in the labor force.

    Gallatin County job market

  23. 23

    Rockingham County NH

    2.1%

    A year ago
    3.2%
    People in the labor force
    187,440
    Population
    317,163

    Based on 187,440 people in the labor force.

    Rockingham County job market

  24. 24

    Sioux County IA

    2.1%

    A year ago
    1.8%
    People in the labor force
    22,067
    Population
    35,984

    Based on 22,067 people in the labor force.

    Sioux County job market

  25. 25

    Williams County ND

    2.1%

    A year ago
    2.6%
    People in the labor force
    20,697
    Population
    39,368

    Based on 20,697 people in the labor force.

    Williams County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Sullivan County NH1.5%21,939
2Minnehaha County SD1.6%118,504
3Medina County OH1.6%101,039
4Geauga County OH1.6%49,958
5Grafton County NH1.6%49,742
6Lincoln County SD1.6%43,069
7Grand Forks County ND1.6%40,583
8Merrimack County NH1.7%82,494
9Strafford County NH1.7%77,884
10Pennington County SD1.7%59,596
11Burleigh County ND1.7%53,521
12Ward County ND1.7%36,423
13Belknap County NH1.7%33,358
14Carroll County NH1.7%26,290
15Lake County OH1.8%126,455
16Cass County ND1.8%120,301
17Miami-Dade County FL1.9%1,452,691
18Lorain County OH1.9%158,110
19Ashtabula County OH1.9%44,296
20Cheshire County NH1.9%40,060
21Cuyahoga County OH2.0%629,048
22Gallatin County MT2.0%78,176
23Rockingham County NH2.1%187,440
24Sioux County IA2.1%22,067
25Williams County ND2.1%20,697
26Dodge County NE2.1%20,493
27Hillsborough County NH2.2%238,420
28Chittenden County VT2.2%96,362
29Washington County RI2.2%68,079
30Buffalo County NE2.2%29,059
31Albany County WY2.2%22,949
32Lancaster County NE2.3%189,580
33Sarpy County NE2.3%112,813
34Missoula County MT2.3%71,518
35Dodge County WI2.3%51,524
36Newport County RI2.3%41,772
37Green County WI2.3%21,118
38Addison County VT2.3%20,527
39Flathead County MT2.4%60,933
40Lewis and Clark County MT2.4%37,289
41Lafayette County MS2.4%30,536
42Calumet County WI2.4%29,999
43Bristol County RI2.4%26,320
44Mifflin County PA2.4%24,037
45Holmes County OH2.4%21,832
46Dane County WI2.5%347,110
47Lancaster County PA2.5%297,770
48Kent County RI2.5%94,170
49Yellowstone County MT2.5%87,838
50Rankin County MS2.5%80,125
51Marathon County WI2.5%74,367
52Jefferson County WI2.5%48,706
53Sauk County WI2.5%36,554
54Washington County VT2.5%31,485
55Jones County MS2.5%30,196
56Douglas County NE2.6%328,644
57Chester County PA2.6%307,859
58Brown County WI2.6%149,875
59Cumberland County PA2.6%142,162
60Outagamie County WI2.6%106,354
61Centre County PA2.6%78,787
62Washington County WI2.6%76,937
63La Crosse County WI2.6%67,180
64Sheboygan County WI2.6%63,977
65Walworth County WI2.6%62,307
66Eau Claire County WI2.6%61,428
67Henderson County NC2.6%56,516
68Fond du Lac County WI2.6%55,787
69Manitowoc County WI2.6%42,762
70Cascade County MT2.6%38,556
71Stanly County NC2.6%35,137
72Columbia County WI2.6%32,165
73Watauga County NC2.6%28,833
74Windsor County VT2.6%28,481
75Waupaca County WI2.6%26,740
76Summit County UT2.6%25,454
77Monroe County WI2.6%23,331
78Jackson County NC2.6%22,914
79Mercer County OH2.6%22,178
80Montgomery County PA2.7%482,355
81Waukesha County WI2.7%224,760
82Rutherford County TN2.7%214,456
83Cumberland County ME2.7%178,277
84Williamson County TN2.7%144,926
85Johnston County NC2.7%130,865
86Boone County MO2.7%103,746
87Butler County PA2.7%101,300
88Carroll County MD2.7%96,682
89Winnebago County WI2.7%91,902
90Wilson County TN2.7%91,195
91Cache County UT2.7%72,739
92Madison County MS2.7%57,654
93Sevier County TN2.7%53,304
94Adams County PA2.7%51,927
95Ozaukee County WI2.7%50,406
96Cole County MO2.7%40,672
97Chatham County NC2.7%40,021
98Chippewa County WI2.7%34,881
99Jefferson County WV2.7%31,451
100Dickson County TN2.7%29,653

How this ranking works

A county's score is its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first.

Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.

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 with the lowest unemployment?
Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the United States among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.8% 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 its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.
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 with the lowest unemployment,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment">Counties with the lowest unemployment (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

The job market, once a week

One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.

Run a workforce board, job center or economic development office, or hire in the places and industries on this list?

Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers.

See how organizations use it