NextChapter

Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Great Lakes

Hennepin County has the largest share of jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Great Lakes: 33% of its private-sector jobs, against 15% in 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 Hennepin County, MN: 33%
  • #2 Hamilton County, IN: 32%
  • #3 Oakland County, MI: 31%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 15% across all large counties.

  1. 1Hennepin County MN33%
  2. 2Hamilton County IN32%
  3. 3Oakland County MI31%
  4. 4Delaware County OH30%
  5. 5Dane County WI29%
  6. 6Union County OH29%
  7. 7Cook County IL29%
  8. 8Hamilton County OH28%
  9. 9McLean County IL28%
  10. 10Franklin County OH28%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Hennepin County leads on 33%, and #10 Franklin County is at 28%.
  • Union County reaches #6 on a sample of 32,516 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Cook County is the largest market in the top ten, with 2,284,919 jobs behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Some local economies rely on sectors whose tasks AI can do in principle. The share of private-sector jobs in those sectors shows how exposed a county's job base is.

How to use it

Use it as a prompt to look at which skills your own work depends on. Exposure describes tasks AI could do, not jobs that will disappear.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Hennepin County MN

    33%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    825,100
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (11% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.1%

    Based on 825,100 jobs.

    Hennepin County job market

  2. 2

    Hamilton County IN

    32%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    151,962
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (10% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +6.4%

    Based on 151,962 jobs.

    Hamilton County job market

  3. 3

    Oakland County MI

    31%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    673,280
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (13% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +0.1%

    Based on 673,280 jobs.

    Oakland County job market

  4. 4

    Delaware County OH

    30%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    90,800
    Largest exposed sector
    Management of companies (15% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +8.7%

    Based on 90,800 jobs.

    Delaware County job market

  5. 5

    Dane County WI

    29%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    279,473
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (10% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.6%

    Based on 279,473 jobs.

    Dane County job market

  6. 6

    Union County OH

    29%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    32,516
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (15% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +10.9%

    Based on 32,516 jobs.

    Union County job market

  7. 7

    Cook County IL

    29%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    2,284,919
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (10% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.0%

    Based on 2,284,919 jobs.

    Cook County job market

  8. 8

    Hamilton County OH

    28%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    459,152
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +0.1%

    Based on 459,152 jobs.

    Hamilton County job market

  9. 9

    McLean County IL

    28%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    74,167
    Largest exposed sector
    Finance & insurance (23% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.6%

    Based on 74,167 jobs.

    McLean County job market

  10. 10

    Franklin County OH

    28%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    658,496
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.8%

    Based on 658,496 jobs.

    Franklin County job market

  11. 11

    DuPage County IL

    27%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    580,016
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +4.2%

    Based on 580,016 jobs.

    DuPage County job market

  12. 12

    Greene County OH

    27%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,792
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (21% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +7.3%

    Based on 56,792 jobs.

    Greene County job market

  13. 13

    Cuyahoga County OH

    25%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    601,105
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    −2.5%

    Based on 601,105 jobs.

    Cuyahoga County job market

  14. 14

    Marion County IN

    25%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    547,394
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.2%

    Based on 547,394 jobs.

    Marion County job market

  15. 15

    Midland County MI

    24%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    35,189
    Largest exposed sector
    Management of companies (11% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +6.2%

    Based on 35,189 jobs.

    Midland County job market

  16. 16

    Washtenaw County MI

    24%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    134,542
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (13% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.3%

    Based on 134,542 jobs.

    Washtenaw County job market

  17. 17

    Lake County IL

    24%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    285,312
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    −0.9%

    Based on 285,312 jobs.

    Lake County job market

  18. 18

    Portage County WI

    24%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    29,280
    Largest exposed sector
    Finance & insurance (14% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.5%

    Based on 29,280 jobs.

    Portage County job market

  19. 19

    Kent County MI

    23%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    390,596
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (12% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.3%

    Based on 390,596 jobs.

    Kent County job market

  20. 20

    Ramsey County MN

    23%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    274,775
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (5% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.1%

    Based on 274,775 jobs.

    Ramsey County job market

  21. 21

    Warren County OH

    23%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    91,759
    Largest exposed sector
    Management of companies (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.3%

    Based on 91,759 jobs.

    Warren County job market

  22. 22

    Ingham County MI

    22%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    108,056
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.4%

    Based on 108,056 jobs.

    Ingham County job market

  23. 23

    Wayne County MI

    22%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    636,226
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +0.3%

    Based on 636,226 jobs.

    Wayne County job market

  24. 24

    Winnebago County WI

    22%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    82,680
    Largest exposed sector
    Management of companies (6% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.7%

    Based on 82,680 jobs.

    Winnebago County job market

  25. 25

    Milwaukee County WI

    22%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    414,860
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +0.4%

    Based on 414,860 jobs.

    Milwaukee County job market

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Hennepin County MN33%825,100
2Hamilton County IN32%151,962
3Oakland County MI31%673,280
4Delaware County OH30%90,800
5Dane County WI29%279,473
6Union County OH29%32,516
7Cook County IL29%2,284,919
8Hamilton County OH28%459,152
9McLean County IL28%74,167
10Franklin County OH28%658,496
11DuPage County IL27%580,016
12Greene County OH27%56,792
13Cuyahoga County OH25%601,105
14Marion County IN25%547,394
15Midland County MI24%35,189
16Washtenaw County MI24%134,542
17Lake County IL24%285,312
18Portage County WI24%29,280
19Kent County MI23%390,596
20Ramsey County MN23%274,775
21Warren County OH23%91,759
22Ingham County MI22%108,056
23Wayne County MI22%636,226
24Winnebago County WI22%82,680
25Milwaukee County WI22%414,860
26Summit County OH21%232,747
27Waukesha County WI21%232,020
28Macomb County MI20%296,284
29Kane County IL20%181,324
30Dakota County MN20%166,150
31Sangamon County IL19%74,414
32Clark County OH19%38,739
33Brown County WI18%143,373
34Montgomery County OH18%221,157
35Vanderburgh County IN18%98,074
36Genesee County MI18%116,565
37Lake County OH18%89,248
38Clermont County OH17%55,541
39Eau Claire County WI17%51,645
40Lucas County OH17%167,792
41Rock Island County IL17%57,392
42Livingston County MI17%57,529
43Butler County OH17%146,248
44Saginaw County MI16%69,804
45Outagamie County WI16%98,408
46Champaign County IL16%67,040
47Delaware County IN16%36,489
48Eaton County MI16%39,598
49Allen County IN16%181,044
50Medina County OH16%56,179
51Ozaukee County WI16%37,057
52Kenosha County WI15%67,693
53Geauga County OH15%33,535
54Licking County OH15%66,539
55Jackson County MI15%47,479
56McHenry County IL15%83,397
57St. Clair County IL15%71,602
58St. Joseph County IN15%109,856
59Williamson County IL15%24,425
60Kalamazoo County MI14%109,092
61Madison County IL14%92,904
62Calhoun County MI14%44,258
63Lake County IN14%169,442
64Stark County OH14%139,782
65Floyd County IN14%29,045
66Washington County MN14%85,447
67Monroe County IN14%50,598
68Mahoning County OH14%80,918
69Wood County WI14%31,070
70Will County IL14%234,668
71Grand Traverse County MI14%47,140
72Hendricks County IN14%70,864
73Fairfield County OH14%40,916
74La Crosse County WI14%62,282
75Allen County OH13%44,189
76Tippecanoe County IN13%73,149
77Rock County WI13%61,757
78LaSalle County IL13%32,330
79Bartholomew County IN13%43,546
80Clark County IN13%54,970
81Marathon County WI13%62,577
82Portage County OH13%46,406
83Ottawa County MI13%113,317
84Bay County MI13%29,019
85Stearns County MN13%76,313
86Walworth County WI13%39,342
87Tuscarawas County OH12%32,090
88Marquette County MI12%21,496
89Berrien County MI12%52,215
90Washington County OH12%22,346
91Sheboygan County WI12%55,244
92Porter County IN12%57,194
93Racine County WI12%67,033
94Jefferson County WI12%29,676
95Washington County WI12%53,031
96Miami County OH12%36,763
97Hancock County OH12%40,476
98Lorain County OH12%84,162
99Madison County IN12%34,036
100Johnson County IN12%58,288

How this ranking works

A county's score is the share of its private-sector jobs in the sectors where much of the work is information handling that AI can already do in part: Information, Finance and insurance, Professional and technical services, Management of companies, and Administrative and staffing services. Jobs come from BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025.

Exposure describes the mix of a local economy, not a forecast of lost jobs. Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 are ranked.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 (private-sector jobs by sector). 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 most jobs in ai-exposed sectors in the great lakes?
Hennepin County has the largest share of jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Great Lakes: 33% of its private-sector jobs, against 15% in the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
100 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is the share of its private-sector jobs in the sectors where much of the work is information handling that AI can already do in part: Information, Finance and insurance, Professional and technical services, Management of companies, and Administrative and staffing services. Jobs come from BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Exposure describes the mix of a local economy, not a forecast of lost jobs. Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 are ranked.
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 most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-ai-exposed-jobs-in-the-great-lakes

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

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

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