NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Great Lakes

Medina County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Great Lakes among large counties: 1.6%, against 3.6% 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 Medina County, OH: 1.6%
  • #2 Geauga County, OH: 1.6%
  • #3 Lake County, OH: 1.8%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.6% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Medina County OH1.6%
  2. 2Geauga County OH1.6%
  3. 3Lake County OH1.8%
  4. 4Lorain County OH1.9%
  5. 5Ashtabula County OH1.9%
  6. 6Cuyahoga County OH2.0%
  7. 7Dodge County WI2.3%
  8. 8Green County WI2.3%
  9. 9Calumet County WI2.4%
  10. 10Holmes County OH2.4%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Medina County leads on 1.6%, and #10 Holmes County is at 2.4%.
  • Green County reaches #8 on a sample of 21,118 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Cuyahoga County is the largest market in the top ten, with 629,048 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

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    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

  6. 6

    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

  7. 7

    Dodge County WI

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.2%
    People in the labor force
    51,524
    Population
    88,818

    Based on 51,524 people in the labor force.

    Dodge County job market

  8. 8

    Green County WI

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.2%
    People in the labor force
    21,118
    Population
    37,036

    Based on 21,118 people in the labor force.

    Green County job market

  9. 9

    Calumet County WI

    2.4%

    A year ago
    2.2%
    People in the labor force
    29,999
    Population
    52,626

    Based on 29,999 people in the labor force.

    Calumet County job market

  10. 10

    Holmes County OH

    2.4%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    21,832
    Population
    44,312

    Based on 21,832 people in the labor force.

    Holmes County job market

  11. 11

    Dane County WI

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    347,110
    Population
    564,777

    Based on 347,110 people in the labor force.

    Dane County job market

  12. 12

    Marathon County WI

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    74,367
    Population
    138,067

    Based on 74,367 people in the labor force.

    Marathon County job market

  13. 13

    Jefferson County WI

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    48,706
    Population
    85,867

    Based on 48,706 people in the labor force.

    Jefferson County job market

  14. 14

    Sauk County WI

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    36,554
    Population
    65,759

    Based on 36,554 people in the labor force.

    Sauk County job market

  15. 15

    Brown County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    149,875
    Population
    269,425

    Based on 149,875 people in the labor force.

    Brown County job market

  16. 16

    Outagamie County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    106,354
    Population
    191,537

    Based on 106,354 people in the labor force.

    Outagamie County job market

  17. 17

    Washington County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    76,937
    Population
    137,320

    Based on 76,937 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  18. 18

    La Crosse County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    67,180
    Population
    120,262

    Based on 67,180 people in the labor force.

    La Crosse County job market

  19. 19

    Sheboygan County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    63,977
    Population
    117,783

    Based on 63,977 people in the labor force.

    Sheboygan County job market

  20. 20

    Walworth County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    62,307
    Population
    105,447

    Based on 62,307 people in the labor force.

    Walworth County job market

  21. 21

    Eau Claire County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    61,428
    Population
    106,328

    Based on 61,428 people in the labor force.

    Eau Claire County job market

  22. 22

    Fond du Lac County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    55,787
    Population
    104,053

    Based on 55,787 people in the labor force.

    Fond du Lac County job market

  23. 23

    Manitowoc County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    42,762
    Population
    81,314

    Based on 42,762 people in the labor force.

    Manitowoc County job market

  24. 24

    Columbia County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    32,165
    Population
    58,322

    Based on 32,165 people in the labor force.

    Columbia County job market

  25. 25

    Waupaca County WI

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    26,740
    Population
    51,714

    Based on 26,740 people in the labor force.

    Waupaca County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Medina County OH1.6%101,039
2Geauga County OH1.6%49,958
3Lake County OH1.8%126,455
4Lorain County OH1.9%158,110
5Ashtabula County OH1.9%44,296
6Cuyahoga County OH2.0%629,048
7Dodge County WI2.3%51,524
8Green County WI2.3%21,118
9Calumet County WI2.4%29,999
10Holmes County OH2.4%21,832
11Dane County WI2.5%347,110
12Marathon County WI2.5%74,367
13Jefferson County WI2.5%48,706
14Sauk County WI2.5%36,554
15Brown County WI2.6%149,875
16Outagamie County WI2.6%106,354
17Washington County WI2.6%76,937
18La Crosse County WI2.6%67,180
19Sheboygan County WI2.6%63,977
20Walworth County WI2.6%62,307
21Eau Claire County WI2.6%61,428
22Fond du Lac County WI2.6%55,787
23Manitowoc County WI2.6%42,762
24Columbia County WI2.6%32,165
25Waupaca County WI2.6%26,740
26Monroe County WI2.6%23,331
27Mercer County OH2.6%22,178
28Waukesha County WI2.7%224,760
29Winnebago County WI2.7%91,902
30Ozaukee County WI2.7%50,406
31Chippewa County WI2.7%34,881
32Dunn County WI2.7%25,703
33St. Croix County WI2.8%55,536
34Portage County WI2.8%39,252
35Grant County WI2.8%27,521
36Auglaize County OH2.8%23,729
37Barron County WI2.8%23,040
38Oconto County WI2.8%20,912
39Shawano County WI2.8%20,879
40Union County OH2.9%38,434
41Wood County WI2.9%35,969
42Adams County IL2.9%33,144
43Kenosha County WI3.0%97,124
44Rock County WI3.0%87,389
45Pierce County WI3.0%25,264
46Coles County IL3.0%25,108
47Polk County WI3.0%23,523
48Hamilton County IN3.1%213,172
49Delaware County OH3.1%127,769
50Hendricks County IN3.1%105,533
51Boone County IN3.1%43,372
52Shelby County OH3.1%23,651
53Logan County OH3.1%22,763
54Clinton County OH3.1%22,224
55Madison County OH3.1%21,228
56Montgomery County IN3.1%20,704
57Warren County OH3.2%132,655
58Johnson County IN3.2%90,361
59Miami County OH3.2%55,628
60Wayne County OH3.2%55,150
61Grand Traverse County MI3.2%50,621
62Hancock County IN3.2%48,913
63Preble County OH3.2%21,451
64McLean County IL3.3%92,333
65Licking County OH3.3%91,877
66Fairfield County OH3.3%83,516
67Tuscarawas County OH3.3%44,568
68Hancock County OH3.3%36,097
69Knox County OH3.3%30,203
70Darke County OH3.3%24,988
71Ashland County OH3.3%24,895
72Marinette County WI3.3%20,399
73Franklin County OH3.4%725,120
74Allen County IN3.4%205,594
75Madison County IL3.4%132,941
76Clermont County OH3.4%109,926
77Racine County WI3.4%100,471
78Greene County OH3.4%83,492
79Wood County OH3.4%67,973
80Morgan County IN3.4%37,766
81Warrick County IN3.4%33,648
82Pickaway County OH3.4%28,674
83Huron County OH3.4%28,385
84Dearborn County IN3.4%27,395
85Shelby County IN3.4%23,612
86Marshall County IN3.4%23,107
87Jackson County IN3.4%23,041
88Dubois County IN3.4%21,581
89Fulton County OH3.4%20,594
90Hamilton County OH3.5%430,532
91Butler County OH3.5%196,312
92Tippecanoe County IN3.5%101,622
93Portage County OH3.5%84,047
94Allegan County MI3.5%60,586
95Kosciusko County IN3.5%40,161
96Clinton County MI3.5%38,465
97Seneca County OH3.5%25,603
98Ogle County IL3.5%24,044
99Douglas County WI3.5%22,465
100DeKalb County IN3.5%21,339

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 in the great lakes?
Medina County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Great Lakes among large counties: 1.6%, against 3.6% 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 in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-great-lakes

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

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

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