NextChapter

Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Southwest

Collin County has the largest share of jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Southwest: 40% of its private-sector jobs, against 17% 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 Collin County, TX: 40%
  • #2 Travis County, TX: 36%
  • #3 Dallas County, TX: 34%
  • 70 counties ranked in the Southwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 17% across all large counties.

  1. 1Collin County TX40%
  2. 2Travis County TX36%
  3. 3Dallas County TX34%
  4. 4Bernalillo County NM27%
  5. 5Bexar County TX26%
  6. 6Maricopa County AZ26%
  7. 7Williamson County TX25%
  8. 8Harris County TX25%
  9. 9Oklahoma County OK24%
  10. 10Denton County TX23%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Collin County (40%) is well clear of Denton County at #10 (23%).
  • Williamson County reaches #7 on a sample of 209,472 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Harris County is the largest market in the top ten, with 2,173,259 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

    Collin County TX

    40%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    500,403
    Largest exposed sector
    Finance & insurance (14% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +11.0%

    Based on 500,403 jobs.

    Collin County job market

  2. 2

    Travis County TX

    36%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    794,196
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (16% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +5.8%

    Based on 794,196 jobs.

    Travis County job market

  3. 3

    Dallas County TX

    34%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    1,643,802
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (12% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +0.9%

    Based on 1,643,802 jobs.

    Dallas County job market

  4. 4

    Bernalillo County NM

    27%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    283,044
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (12% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +2.9%

    Based on 283,044 jobs.

    Bernalillo County job market

  5. 5

    Bexar County TX

    26%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    780,620
    Largest exposed sector
    Finance & insurance (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.4%

    Based on 780,620 jobs.

    Bexar County job market

  6. 6

    Maricopa County AZ

    26%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    2,070,496
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +5.4%

    Based on 2,070,496 jobs.

    Maricopa County job market

  7. 7

    Williamson County TX

    25%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    209,472
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (10% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +14.8%

    Based on 209,472 jobs.

    Williamson County job market

  8. 8

    Harris County TX

    25%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    2,173,259
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (10% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +4.5%

    Based on 2,173,259 jobs.

    Harris County job market

  9. 9

    Oklahoma County OK

    24%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    418,194
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +5.8%

    Based on 418,194 jobs.

    Oklahoma County job market

  10. 10

    Denton County TX

    23%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    273,432
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +9.0%

    Based on 273,432 jobs.

    Denton County job market

  11. 11

    Tulsa County OK

    23%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    336,573
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.6%

    Based on 336,573 jobs.

    Tulsa County job market

  12. 12

    Clark County NV

    22%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    1,026,102
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +7.6%

    Based on 1,026,102 jobs.

    Clark County job market

  13. 13

    Tarrant County TX

    21%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    904,036
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +5.3%

    Based on 904,036 jobs.

    Tarrant County job market

  14. 14

    Montgomery County TX

    20%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    200,121
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (8% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +11.0%

    Based on 200,121 jobs.

    Montgomery County job market

  15. 15

    Cochise County AZ

    20%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    24,238
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.9%

    Based on 24,238 jobs.

    Cochise County job market

  16. 16

    Washoe County NV

    20%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    213,861
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.5%

    Based on 213,861 jobs.

    Washoe County job market

  17. 17

    El Paso County TX

    20%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    269,435
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +6.7%

    Based on 269,435 jobs.

    El Paso County job market

  18. 18

    Pima County AZ

    18%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    314,789
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +1.7%

    Based on 314,789 jobs.

    Pima County job market

  19. 19

    Taylor County TX

    18%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    57,907
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (6% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +4.7%

    Based on 57,907 jobs.

    Taylor County job market

  20. 20

    Sandoval County NM

    18%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    26,499
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (9% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +11.7%

    Based on 26,499 jobs.

    Sandoval County job market

  21. 21

    Cleveland County OK

    17%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    69,775
    Largest exposed sector
    Professional & technical (6% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +3.6%

    Based on 69,775 jobs.

    Cleveland County job market

  22. 22

    Payne County OK

    17%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    21,850
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (6% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +4.8%

    Based on 21,850 jobs.

    Payne County job market

  23. 23

    Fort Bend County TX

    17%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    213,954
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +13.3%

    Based on 213,954 jobs.

    Fort Bend County job market

  24. 24

    Comal County TX

    17%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    68,496
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (7% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +10.6%

    Based on 68,496 jobs.

    Comal County job market

  25. 25

    Galveston County TX

    17%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    90,500
    Largest exposed sector
    Admin & staffing (6% of jobs)
    Job growth since 2022
    +4.9%

    Based on 90,500 jobs.

    Galveston County job market

Full ranking

All 70 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Collin County TX40%500,403
2Travis County TX36%794,196
3Dallas County TX34%1,643,802
4Bernalillo County NM27%283,044
5Bexar County TX26%780,620
6Maricopa County AZ26%2,070,496
7Williamson County TX25%209,472
8Harris County TX25%2,173,259
9Oklahoma County OK24%418,194
10Denton County TX23%273,432
11Tulsa County OK23%336,573
12Clark County NV22%1,026,102
13Tarrant County TX21%904,036
14Montgomery County TX20%200,121
15Cochise County AZ20%24,238
16Washoe County NV20%213,861
17El Paso County TX20%269,435
18Pima County AZ18%314,789
19Taylor County TX18%57,907
20Sandoval County NM18%26,499
21Cleveland County OK17%69,775
22Payne County OK17%21,850
23Fort Bend County TX17%213,954
24Comal County TX17%68,496
25Galveston County TX17%90,500
26Carson City NV17%22,973
27Brazos County TX17%83,442
28Rockwall County TX17%38,606
29McLennan County TX16%104,410
30Potter County TX16%64,602
31Cameron County TX16%126,820
32Lubbock County TX16%119,614
33Smith County TX16%100,020
34Hays County TX16%82,255
35Santa Fe County NM15%46,510
36Pinal County AZ15%58,658
37Bell County TX15%99,582
38Tom Green County TX15%41,092
39Nueces County TX15%138,165
40Jefferson County TX15%108,041
41Doña Ana County NM15%62,617
42Parker County TX14%35,973
43Yuma County AZ14%55,955
44Comanche County OK14%27,305
45Webb County TX14%85,254
46Yavapai County AZ14%59,857
47Grayson County TX14%44,880
48Gregg County TX14%68,106
49Hidalgo County TX14%237,712
50Bowie County TX14%33,082
51Wichita County TX13%42,154
52Midland County TX13%109,487
53Muskogee County OK12%19,303
54Ellis County TX12%54,980
55Brazoria County TX12%103,025
56Mohave County AZ12%47,644
57Eddy County NM12%30,342
58Angelina County TX12%28,960
59Hunt County TX11%24,384
60Johnson County TX11%51,580
61Victoria County TX10%30,232
62Kaufman County TX10%36,096
63Lea County NM10%29,633
64Guadalupe County TX10%42,596
65Coconino County AZ10%52,025
66Rogers County OK10%24,878
67San Juan County NM9%36,426
68Ector County TX9%70,023
69Canadian County OK8%31,278
70Randall County TX7%31,798

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 southwest?
Collin County has the largest share of jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Southwest: 40% of its private-sector jobs, against 17% in the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
70 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 70 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 Southwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-ai-exposed-jobs-in-the-southwest

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

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

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