NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Mid-Atlantic

Mifflin County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Mid-Atlantic among large counties: 2.4%, against 3.7% 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 Mifflin County, PA: 2.4%
  • #2 Lancaster County, PA: 2.5%
  • #3 Chester County, PA: 2.6%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.7% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Mifflin County PA2.4%
  2. 2Lancaster County PA2.5%
  3. 3Chester County PA2.6%
  4. 4Cumberland County PA2.6%
  5. 5Centre County PA2.6%
  6. 6Montgomery County PA2.7%
  7. 7Butler County PA2.7%
  8. 8Carroll County MD2.7%
  9. 9Adams County PA2.7%
  10. 10Perry County PA2.7%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Mifflin County leads on 2.4%, and #10 Perry County is at 2.7%.
  • Perry County reaches #10 on a sample of 23,444 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Montgomery County is the largest market in the top ten, with 482,355 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

    Mifflin County PA

    2.4%

    A year ago
    3.7%
    People in the labor force
    24,037
    Population
    46,074

    Based on 24,037 people in the labor force.

    Mifflin County job market

  2. 2

    Lancaster County PA

    2.5%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    297,770
    Population
    555,151

    Based on 297,770 people in the labor force.

    Lancaster County job market

  3. 3

    Chester County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    307,859
    Population
    540,896

    Based on 307,859 people in the labor force.

    Chester County job market

  4. 4

    Cumberland County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    142,162
    Population
    264,422

    Based on 142,162 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  5. 5

    Centre County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    78,787
    Population
    158,041

    Based on 78,787 people in the labor force.

    Centre County job market

  6. 6

    Montgomery County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.7%
    People in the labor force
    482,355
    Population
    861,225

    Based on 482,355 people in the labor force.

    Montgomery County job market

  7. 7

    Butler County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    101,300
    Population
    195,870

    Based on 101,300 people in the labor force.

    Butler County job market

  8. 8

    Carroll County MD

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    96,682
    Population
    174,318

    Based on 96,682 people in the labor force.

    Carroll County job market

  9. 9

    Adams County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    51,927
    Population
    105,183

    Based on 51,927 people in the labor force.

    Adams County job market

  10. 10

    Perry County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.8%
    People in the labor force
    23,444
    Population
    45,988

    Based on 23,444 people in the labor force.

    Perry County job market

  11. 11

    Bedford County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.8%
    People in the labor force
    23,144
    Population
    47,503

    Based on 23,144 people in the labor force.

    Bedford County job market

  12. 12

    Franklin County PA

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.9%
    People in the labor force
    79,406
    Population
    156,626

    Based on 79,406 people in the labor force.

    Franklin County job market

  13. 13

    Lebanon County PA

    2.8%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    75,238
    Population
    143,592

    Based on 75,238 people in the labor force.

    Lebanon County job market

  14. 14

    Queen Anne's County MD

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    29,334
    Population
    50,951

    Based on 29,334 people in the labor force.

    Queen Anne's County job market

  15. 15

    Bucks County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    354,013
    Population
    645,993

    Based on 354,013 people in the labor force.

    Bucks County job market

  16. 16

    Westmoreland County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    175,059
    Population
    353,345

    Based on 175,059 people in the labor force.

    Westmoreland County job market

  17. 17

    Arlington County VA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    149,311
    Population
    235,463

    Based on 149,311 people in the labor force.

    Arlington County job market

  18. 18

    Blair County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    57,451
    Population
    121,854

    Based on 57,451 people in the labor force.

    Blair County job market

  19. 19

    Augusta County VA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    40,964
    Population
    77,713

    Based on 40,964 people in the labor force.

    Augusta County job market

  20. 20

    Crawford County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    37,094
    Population
    83,189

    Based on 37,094 people in the labor force.

    Crawford County job market

  21. 21

    Somerset County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    32,232
    Population
    73,255

    Based on 32,232 people in the labor force.

    Somerset County job market

  22. 22

    Bradford County PA

    2.9%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    26,546
    Population
    59,971

    Based on 26,546 people in the labor force.

    Bradford County job market

  23. 23

    Allegheny County PA

    3.0%

    A year ago
    4.0%
    People in the labor force
    651,551
    Population
    1,240,476

    Based on 651,551 people in the labor force.

    Allegheny County job market

  24. 24

    Anne Arundel County MD

    3.0%

    A year ago
    3.8%
    People in the labor force
    321,951
    Population
    590,936

    Based on 321,951 people in the labor force.

    Anne Arundel County job market

  25. 25

    York County PA

    3.0%

    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    241,936
    Population
    459,312

    Based on 241,936 people in the labor force.

    York County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Mifflin County PA2.4%24,037
2Lancaster County PA2.5%297,770
3Chester County PA2.6%307,859
4Cumberland County PA2.6%142,162
5Centre County PA2.6%78,787
6Montgomery County PA2.7%482,355
7Butler County PA2.7%101,300
8Carroll County MD2.7%96,682
9Adams County PA2.7%51,927
10Perry County PA2.7%23,444
11Bedford County PA2.7%23,144
12Franklin County PA2.8%79,406
13Lebanon County PA2.8%75,238
14Queen Anne's County MD2.8%29,334
15Bucks County PA2.9%354,013
16Westmoreland County PA2.9%175,059
17Arlington County VA2.9%149,311
18Blair County PA2.9%57,451
19Augusta County VA2.9%40,964
20Crawford County PA2.9%37,094
21Somerset County PA2.9%32,232
22Bradford County PA2.9%26,546
23Allegheny County PA3.0%651,551
24Anne Arundel County MD3.0%321,951
25York County PA3.0%241,936
26Howard County MD3.0%185,084
27Washington County PA3.0%105,259
28St. Mary's County MD3.0%57,828
29Rockingham County VA3.0%45,643
30Fauquier County VA3.0%40,719
31Clearfield County PA3.0%35,158
32Charlottesville city VA3.0%24,867
33Wayne County PA3.0%22,371
34Frederick County MD3.1%154,555
35Harford County MD3.1%143,898
36Hanover County VA3.1%60,757
37Lycoming County PA3.1%52,951
38Calvert County MD3.1%48,329
39Northumberland County PA3.1%44,046
40Indiana County PA3.1%36,424
41Armstrong County PA3.1%30,054
42Gloucester County VA3.1%20,212
43Montgomery County MD3.2%560,766
44Dauphin County PA3.2%150,236
45Saratoga County NY3.2%128,127
46Erie County PA3.2%127,408
47Alexandria city VA3.2%97,772
48Lawrence County PA3.2%39,021
49Manassas city VA3.2%23,313
50Venango County PA3.2%20,355
51Delaware County PA3.3%310,040
52Northampton County PA3.3%171,493
53Beaver County PA3.3%82,812
54Hunterdon County NJ3.3%68,579
55Albemarle County VA3.3%61,963
56Roanoke County VA3.3%49,382
57Mercer County PA3.3%46,061
58Columbia County NY3.3%30,937
59Genesee County NY3.3%30,881
60Washington County NY3.3%28,878
61Worcester County MD3.3%28,416
62Culpeper County VA3.3%27,741
63Chenango County NY3.3%22,193
64Fairfax County VA3.4%624,457
65Loudoun County VA3.4%244,202
66Berks County PA3.4%222,340
67Lackawanna County PA3.4%105,925
68Cambria County PA3.4%55,495
69Putnam County NY3.4%54,341
70Frederick County VA3.4%49,573
71Wayne County NY3.4%46,006
72Carbon County PA3.4%33,161
73Warren County VA3.4%20,852
74Isle of Wight County VA3.4%20,575
75Bergen County NJ3.5%540,988
76Morris County NJ3.5%276,643
77Prince William County VA3.5%258,641
78Virginia Beach city VA3.5%229,827
79Lehigh County PA3.5%202,076
80Cecil County MD3.5%52,675
81York County VA3.5%33,289
82Warren County NY3.5%32,009
83Columbia County PA3.5%31,738
84Baltimore County MD3.6%450,376
85Stafford County VA3.6%82,889
86Washington County MD3.6%70,911
87Ontario County NY3.6%56,225
88Wicomico County MD3.6%53,791
89Bedford County VA3.6%38,096
90Cayuga County NY3.6%36,913
91Washington County VA3.6%24,634
92Tioga County NY3.6%22,411
93Nassau County NY3.7%718,633
94Monmouth County NJ3.7%336,779
95Chesterfield County VA3.7%201,198
96Somerset County NJ3.7%195,616
97Henrico County VA3.7%181,313
98Rockland County NY3.7%165,003
99Dutchess County NY3.7%155,583
100Chesapeake city VA3.7%124,004

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 mid-atlantic?
Mifflin County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Mid-Atlantic among large counties: 2.4%, against 3.7% 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 Mid-Atlantic,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-mid-atlantic

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

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

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