NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Midwest

Minnehaha County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Midwest among large counties: 1.6%, against 3.5% 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 Minnehaha County, SD: 1.6%
  • #2 Medina County, OH: 1.6%
  • #3 Geauga County, OH: 1.6%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Midwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.5% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Minnehaha County SD1.6%
  2. 2Medina County OH1.6%
  3. 3Geauga County OH1.6%
  4. 4Lincoln County SD1.6%
  5. 5Grand Forks County ND1.6%
  6. 6Pennington County SD1.7%
  7. 7Burleigh County ND1.7%
  8. 8Ward County ND1.7%
  9. 9Lake County OH1.8%
  10. 10Cass County ND1.8%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Minnehaha County leads on 1.6%, and #10 Cass County is at 1.8%.
  • Lake County is the largest market in the top ten, with 126,455 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

    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

  2. 2

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    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

  6. 6

    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

  7. 7

    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

  8. 8

    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

  9. 9

    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

  10. 10

    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

  11. 11

    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

  12. 12

    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

  13. 13

    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

  14. 14

    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

  15. 15

    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

  16. 16

    Dodge County NE

    2.1%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    20,493
    Population
    37,146

    Based on 20,493 people in the labor force.

    Dodge County job market

  17. 17

    Buffalo County NE

    2.2%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    29,059
    Population
    50,323

    Based on 29,059 people in the labor force.

    Buffalo County job market

  18. 18

    Lancaster County NE

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    189,580
    Population
    323,673

    Based on 189,580 people in the labor force.

    Lancaster County job market

  19. 19

    Sarpy County NE

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    112,813
    Population
    194,051

    Based on 112,813 people in the labor force.

    Sarpy County job market

  20. 20

    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

  21. 21

    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

  22. 22

    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

  23. 23

    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

  24. 24

    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

  25. 25

    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

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Minnehaha County SD1.6%118,504
2Medina County OH1.6%101,039
3Geauga County OH1.6%49,958
4Lincoln County SD1.6%43,069
5Grand Forks County ND1.6%40,583
6Pennington County SD1.7%59,596
7Burleigh County ND1.7%53,521
8Ward County ND1.7%36,423
9Lake County OH1.8%126,455
10Cass County ND1.8%120,301
11Lorain County OH1.9%158,110
12Ashtabula County OH1.9%44,296
13Cuyahoga County OH2.0%629,048
14Sioux County IA2.1%22,067
15Williams County ND2.1%20,697
16Dodge County NE2.1%20,493
17Buffalo County NE2.2%29,059
18Lancaster County NE2.3%189,580
19Sarpy County NE2.3%112,813
20Dodge County WI2.3%51,524
21Green County WI2.3%21,118
22Calumet County WI2.4%29,999
23Holmes County OH2.4%21,832
24Dane County WI2.5%347,110
25Marathon County WI2.5%74,367
26Jefferson County WI2.5%48,706
27Sauk County WI2.5%36,554
28Douglas County NE2.6%328,644
29Brown County WI2.6%149,875
30Outagamie County WI2.6%106,354
31Washington County WI2.6%76,937
32La Crosse County WI2.6%67,180
33Sheboygan County WI2.6%63,977
34Walworth County WI2.6%62,307
35Eau Claire County WI2.6%61,428
36Fond du Lac County WI2.6%55,787
37Manitowoc County WI2.6%42,762
38Columbia County WI2.6%32,165
39Waupaca County WI2.6%26,740
40Monroe County WI2.6%23,331
41Mercer County OH2.6%22,178
42Waukesha County WI2.7%224,760
43Boone County MO2.7%103,746
44Winnebago County WI2.7%91,902
45Ozaukee County WI2.7%50,406
46Cole County MO2.7%40,672
47Chippewa County WI2.7%34,881
48Dunn County WI2.7%25,703
49Callaway County MO2.7%22,166
50Clay County MO2.8%146,989
51Johnson County IA2.8%89,903
52Platte County MO2.8%63,389
53Cass County MO2.8%61,363
54St. Croix County WI2.8%55,536
55Portage County WI2.8%39,252
56Grant County WI2.8%27,521
57Auglaize County OH2.8%23,729
58Barron County WI2.8%23,040
59Oconto County WI2.8%20,912
60Shawano County WI2.8%20,879
61St. Charles County MO2.9%241,011
62Christian County MO2.9%48,532
63Cape Girardeau County MO2.9%43,141
64Union County OH2.9%38,434
65Wood County WI2.9%35,969
66Adams County IL2.9%33,144
67Jefferson County MO3.0%125,066
68Kenosha County WI3.0%97,124
69Rock County WI3.0%87,389
70Dallas County IA3.0%65,418
71Franklin County MO3.0%54,163
72Warren County IA3.0%30,251
73Pierce County WI3.0%25,264
74Coles County IL3.0%25,108
75Polk County WI3.0%23,523
76Cerro Gordo County IA3.0%22,018
77Finney County KS3.0%21,288
78Hamilton County IN3.1%213,172
79Greene County MO3.1%159,200
80Delaware County OH3.1%127,769
81Hendricks County IN3.1%105,533
82Story County IA3.1%57,132
83Dubuque County IA3.1%52,161
84Boone County IN3.1%43,372
85Lincoln County MO3.1%33,694
86Johnson County MO3.1%25,867
87Shelby County OH3.1%23,651
88Logan County OH3.1%22,763
89Clinton County OH3.1%22,224
90Madison County OH3.1%21,228
91Montgomery County IN3.1%20,704
92Warren County OH3.2%132,655
93Johnson County IN3.2%90,361
94Jasper County MO3.2%62,289
95Woodbury County IA3.2%56,311
96Miami County OH3.2%55,628
97Wayne County OH3.2%55,150
98Grand Traverse County MI3.2%50,621
99Hancock County IN3.2%48,913
100Newton County MO3.2%28,469

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 midwest?
Minnehaha County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Midwest among large counties: 1.6%, against 3.5% 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 Midwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-midwest

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

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

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