NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Southeast

Miami-Dade County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast among large counties: 1.9%, 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 Miami-Dade County, FL: 1.9%
  • #2 Lafayette County, MS: 2.4%
  • #3 Rankin County, MS: 2.5%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.7% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Miami-Dade County FL1.9%
  2. 2Lafayette County MS2.4%
  3. 3Rankin County MS2.5%
  4. 4Jones County MS2.5%
  5. 5Henderson County NC2.6%
  6. 6Stanly County NC2.6%
  7. 7Watauga County NC2.6%
  8. 8Jackson County NC2.6%
  9. 9Rutherford County TN2.7%
  10. 10Williamson County TN2.7%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Miami-Dade County leads on 1.9%, and #10 Williamson County is at 2.7%.
  • Jackson County reaches #8 on a sample of 22,914 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Miami-Dade County is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,452,691 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

    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

  2. 2

    Lafayette County MS

    2.4%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    30,536
    Population
    56,920

    Based on 30,536 people in the labor force.

    Lafayette County job market

  3. 3

    Rankin County MS

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    80,125
    Population
    158,218

    Based on 80,125 people in the labor force.

    Rankin County job market

  4. 4

    Jones County MS

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    30,196
    Population
    66,839

    Based on 30,196 people in the labor force.

    Jones County job market

  5. 5

    Henderson County NC

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    56,516
    Population
    117,387

    Based on 56,516 people in the labor force.

    Henderson County job market

  6. 6

    Stanly County NC

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    35,137
    Population
    63,557

    Based on 35,137 people in the labor force.

    Stanly County job market

  7. 7

    Watauga County NC

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    28,833
    Population
    54,607

    Based on 28,833 people in the labor force.

    Watauga County job market

  8. 8

    Jackson County NC

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    22,914
    Population
    43,089

    Based on 22,914 people in the labor force.

    Jackson County job market

  9. 9

    Rutherford County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    214,456
    Population
    351,591

    Based on 214,456 people in the labor force.

    Rutherford County job market

  10. 10

    Williamson County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    144,926
    Population
    254,609

    Based on 144,926 people in the labor force.

    Williamson County job market

  11. 11

    Johnston County NC

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    130,865
    Population
    226,623

    Based on 130,865 people in the labor force.

    Johnston County job market

  12. 12

    Wilson County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    91,195
    Population
    153,587

    Based on 91,195 people in the labor force.

    Wilson County job market

  13. 13

    Madison County MS

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    57,654
    Population
    110,303

    Based on 57,654 people in the labor force.

    Madison County job market

  14. 14

    Sevier County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    53,304
    Population
    98,802

    Based on 53,304 people in the labor force.

    Sevier County job market

  15. 15

    Chatham County NC

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    40,021
    Population
    78,319

    Based on 40,021 people in the labor force.

    Chatham County job market

  16. 16

    Dickson County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    29,653
    Population
    55,197

    Based on 29,653 people in the labor force.

    Dickson County job market

  17. 17

    Cheatham County TN

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    22,949
    Population
    41,500

    Based on 22,949 people in the labor force.

    Cheatham County job market

  18. 18

    Dare County NC

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    20,119
    Population
    37,534

    Based on 20,119 people in the labor force.

    Dare County job market

  19. 19

    Wake County NC

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    698,382
    Population
    1,151,009

    Based on 698,382 people in the labor force.

    Wake County job market

  20. 20

    Davidson County TN

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    431,539
    Population
    709,846

    Based on 431,539 people in the labor force.

    Davidson County job market

  21. 21

    Knox County TN

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    262,224
    Population
    487,401

    Based on 262,224 people in the labor force.

    Knox County job market

  22. 22

    Durham County NC

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    186,784
    Population
    329,405

    Based on 186,784 people in the labor force.

    Durham County job market

  23. 23

    Buncombe County NC

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.8%
    People in the labor force
    137,407
    Population
    271,790

    Based on 137,407 people in the labor force.

    Buncombe County job market

  24. 24

    New Hanover County NC

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    127,187
    Population
    231,214

    Based on 127,187 people in the labor force.

    New Hanover County job market

  25. 25

    Sumner County TN

    2.8%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    115,407
    Population
    200,553

    Based on 115,407 people in the labor force.

    Sumner County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Miami-Dade County FL1.9%1,452,691
2Lafayette County MS2.4%30,536
3Rankin County MS2.5%80,125
4Jones County MS2.5%30,196
5Henderson County NC2.6%56,516
6Stanly County NC2.6%35,137
7Watauga County NC2.6%28,833
8Jackson County NC2.6%22,914
9Rutherford County TN2.7%214,456
10Williamson County TN2.7%144,926
11Johnston County NC2.7%130,865
12Wilson County TN2.7%91,195
13Madison County MS2.7%57,654
14Sevier County TN2.7%53,304
15Chatham County NC2.7%40,021
16Dickson County TN2.7%29,653
17Cheatham County TN2.7%22,949
18Dare County NC2.7%20,119
19Wake County NC2.8%698,382
20Davidson County TN2.8%431,539
21Knox County TN2.8%262,224
22Durham County NC2.8%186,784
23Buncombe County NC2.8%137,407
24New Hanover County NC2.8%127,187
25Sumner County TN2.8%115,407
26Orange County NC2.8%78,148
27Blount County TN2.8%70,218
28Moore County NC2.8%46,371
29Robertson County TN2.8%41,244
30Franklin County NC2.8%40,164
31Carteret County NC2.8%32,175
32Surry County NC2.8%31,907
33Haywood County NC2.8%28,677
34Duplin County NC2.8%23,167
35Arlington County VA2.9%149,311
36Union County NC2.9%133,173
37Iredell County NC2.9%103,949
38Lincoln County NC2.9%47,601
39Augusta County VA2.9%40,964
40Burke County NC2.9%38,209
41Effingham County GA2.9%37,737
42Pender County NC2.9%32,383
43Lamar County MS2.9%30,067
44Granville County NC2.9%28,994
45Loudon County TN2.9%28,033
46Oconee County GA2.9%23,137
47Hancock County MS2.9%21,876
48Person County NC2.9%20,181
49Charleston County SC3.0%245,088
50Cherokee County GA3.0%158,604
51Forsyth County GA3.0%151,568
52Cabarrus County NC3.0%124,308
53Shelby County AL3.0%123,452
54Hall County GA3.0%112,548
55Limestone County AL3.0%59,309
56Rockingham County VA3.0%45,643
57Glynn County GA3.0%44,331
58Troup County GA3.0%40,939
59Fauquier County VA3.0%40,719
60Lee County MS3.0%37,354
61Forrest County MS3.0%35,659
62Charlottesville city VA3.0%24,867
63Davie County NC3.0%20,615
64Stokes County NC3.0%20,132
65Hamilton County TN3.1%200,733
66Chatham County GA3.1%161,013
67Harrison County MS3.1%92,018
68Catawba County NC3.1%75,347
69Rowan County NC3.1%70,271
70Washington County TN3.1%67,797
71Randolph County NC3.1%66,982
72Morgan County AL3.1%62,008
73Hanover County VA3.1%60,757
74Barrow County GA3.1%50,275
75Monroe County FL3.1%48,238
76Elmore County AL3.1%42,175
77Anderson County TN3.1%36,422
78Caldwell County NC3.1%35,034
79Lee County NC3.1%30,569
80Jefferson County TN3.1%26,249
81Bryan County GA3.1%25,138
82Sampson County NC3.1%24,578
83Habersham County GA3.1%23,744
84Gloucester County VA3.1%20,212
85Greenville County SC3.2%306,446
86Madison County AL3.2%227,978
87Lexington County SC3.2%163,120
88Gaston County NC3.2%116,203
89Alexandria city VA3.2%97,772
90DeSoto County MS3.2%97,666
91Alamance County NC3.2%83,676
92Coweta County GA3.2%82,033
93Davidson County NC3.2%79,910
94Sullivan County TN3.2%73,504
95Pickens County SC3.2%69,415
96Jackson County MS3.2%66,203
97Jackson County GA3.2%45,248
98Putnam County TN3.2%38,973
99Catoosa County GA3.2%35,441
100Gordon County GA3.2%30,021

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 southeast?
Miami-Dade County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast among large counties: 1.9%, 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 Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-southeast

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

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

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