NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Mountain West

Gallatin County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Mountain West among large counties: 2.0%, 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 Gallatin County, MT: 2.0%
  • #2 Albany County, WY: 2.2%
  • #3 Missoula County, MT: 2.3%
  • 55 counties ranked in the Mountain West
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.5% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Gallatin County MT2.0%
  2. 2Albany County WY2.2%
  3. 3Missoula County MT2.3%
  4. 4Flathead County MT2.4%
  5. 5Lewis and Clark County MT2.4%
  6. 6Yellowstone County MT2.5%
  7. 7Cascade County MT2.6%
  8. 8Summit County UT2.6%
  9. 9Cache County UT2.7%
  10. 10Campbell County WY2.7%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Gallatin County leads on 2.0%, and #10 Campbell County is at 2.7%.
  • Albany County reaches #2 on a sample of 22,949 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Yellowstone County is the largest market in the top ten, with 87,838 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

    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

  2. 2

    Albany County WY

    2.2%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    22,949
    Population
    37,713

    Based on 22,949 people in the labor force.

    Albany County job market

  3. 3

    Missoula County MT

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    71,518
    Population
    119,639

    Based on 71,518 people in the labor force.

    Missoula County job market

  4. 4

    Flathead County MT

    2.4%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    60,933
    Population
    108,445

    Based on 60,933 people in the labor force.

    Flathead County job market

  5. 5

    Lewis and Clark County MT

    2.4%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    37,289
    Population
    72,580

    Based on 37,289 people in the labor force.

    Lewis and Clark County job market

  6. 6

    Yellowstone County MT

    2.5%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    87,838
    Population
    167,340

    Based on 87,838 people in the labor force.

    Yellowstone County job market

  7. 7

    Cascade County MT

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.2%
    People in the labor force
    38,556
    Population
    84,601

    Based on 38,556 people in the labor force.

    Cascade County job market

  8. 8

    Summit County UT

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    25,454
    Population
    42,709

    Based on 25,454 people in the labor force.

    Summit County job market

  9. 9

    Cache County UT

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    72,739
    Population
    137,031

    Based on 72,739 people in the labor force.

    Cache County job market

  10. 10

    Campbell County WY

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    23,416
    Population
    47,018

    Based on 23,416 people in the labor force.

    Campbell County job market

  11. 11

    Wasatch County UT

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    21,074
    Population
    35,808

    Based on 21,074 people in the labor force.

    Wasatch County job market

  12. 12

    Ravalli County MT

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    20,799
    Population
    45,807

    Based on 20,799 people in the labor force.

    Ravalli County job market

  13. 13

    Natrona County WY

    2.9%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    39,739
    Population
    79,735

    Based on 39,739 people in the labor force.

    Natrona County job market

  14. 14

    Iron County UT

    2.9%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    33,738
    Population
    60,201

    Based on 33,738 people in the labor force.

    Iron County job market

  15. 15

    Latah County ID

    2.9%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    21,744
    Population
    40,315

    Based on 21,744 people in the labor force.

    Latah County job market

  16. 16

    Davis County UT

    3.0%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    196,022
    Population
    366,742

    Based on 196,022 people in the labor force.

    Davis County job market

  17. 17

    Bonneville County ID

    3.0%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    65,191
    Population
    127,056

    Based on 65,191 people in the labor force.

    Bonneville County job market

  18. 18

    Laramie County WY

    3.0%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    46,833
    Population
    100,661

    Based on 46,833 people in the labor force.

    Laramie County job market

  19. 19

    Box Elder County UT

    3.0%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    28,931
    Population
    59,725

    Based on 28,931 people in the labor force.

    Box Elder County job market

  20. 20

    Elko County NV

    3.0%

    A year ago
    3.7%
    People in the labor force
    27,526
    Population
    53,852

    Based on 27,526 people in the labor force.

    Elko County job market

  21. 21

    Ada County ID

    3.1%

    A year ago
    3.2%
    People in the labor force
    294,713
    Population
    508,052

    Based on 294,713 people in the labor force.

    Ada County job market

  22. 22

    Weber County UT

    3.1%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    147,379
    Population
    266,183

    Based on 147,379 people in the labor force.

    Weber County job market

  23. 23

    Nez Perce County ID

    3.1%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    20,322
    Population
    42,477

    Based on 20,322 people in the labor force.

    Nez Perce County job market

  24. 24

    Salt Lake County UT

    3.2%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    705,101
    Population
    1,184,689

    Based on 705,101 people in the labor force.

    Salt Lake County job market

  25. 25

    Canyon County ID

    3.2%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    136,328
    Population
    242,405

    Based on 136,328 people in the labor force.

    Canyon County job market

Full ranking

All 55 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Gallatin County MT2.0%78,176
2Albany County WY2.2%22,949
3Missoula County MT2.3%71,518
4Flathead County MT2.4%60,933
5Lewis and Clark County MT2.4%37,289
6Yellowstone County MT2.5%87,838
7Cascade County MT2.6%38,556
8Summit County UT2.6%25,454
9Cache County UT2.7%72,739
10Campbell County WY2.7%23,416
11Wasatch County UT2.8%21,074
12Ravalli County MT2.8%20,799
13Natrona County WY2.9%39,739
14Iron County UT2.9%33,738
15Latah County ID2.9%21,744
16Davis County UT3.0%196,022
17Bonneville County ID3.0%65,191
18Laramie County WY3.0%46,833
19Box Elder County UT3.0%28,931
20Elko County NV3.0%27,526
21Ada County ID3.1%294,713
22Weber County UT3.1%147,379
23Nez Perce County ID3.1%20,322
24Salt Lake County UT3.2%705,101
25Canyon County ID3.2%136,328
26Washington County UT3.2%97,011
27Twin Falls County ID3.2%47,549
28Utah County UT3.3%369,791
29Tooele County UT3.3%45,832
30Eagle County CO3.4%33,165
31Bingham County ID3.4%23,760
32Washoe County NV3.5%269,799
33Garfield County CO3.5%32,972
34Carson City NV3.5%28,941
35Kootenai County ID3.7%89,647
36Douglas County NV3.7%24,177
37Bannock County ID3.8%40,520
38Lyon County NV3.9%30,193
39La Plata County CO3.9%28,509
40Douglas County CO4.0%222,728
41Jefferson County CO4.1%330,197
42Larimer County CO4.2%204,208
43Broomfield County CO4.2%45,295
44Madison County ID4.2%27,267
45Bonner County ID4.2%22,233
46Arapahoe County CO4.3%371,702
47Denver County CO4.4%444,028
48Boulder County CO4.4%186,817
49Mesa County CO4.4%78,026
50Montrose County CO4.4%20,245
51El Paso County CO4.6%375,476
52Adams County CO4.6%298,768
53Weld County CO4.7%177,666
54Clark County NV4.8%1,226,229
55Pueblo County CO6.1%71,039

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 mountain west?
Gallatin County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Mountain West among large counties: 2.0%, against 3.5% for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
55 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 55 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 Mountain West,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-mountain-west

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

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

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