NextChapter

Counties with the most job centers per unemployed person in New England

Aroostook County has the most American Job Centers for the number of people unemployed in New England: 9.1 per 10,000, against 2.0 per 10,000 across all ranked counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Aroostook County, ME: 9.1 per 10,000
  • #2 Strafford County, NH: 7.5 per 10,000
  • #3 Franklin County, MA: 7.2 per 10,000
  • 23 counties ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 2.0 per 10,000 across all ranked counties.

  1. 1Aroostook County ME9.1 per 10,000
  2. 2Strafford County NH7.5 per 10,000
  3. 3Franklin County MA7.2 per 10,000
  4. 4Merrimack County NH7.2 per 10,000
  5. 5Androscoggin County ME5.4 per 10,000
  6. 6Rockingham County NH5.0 per 10,000
  7. 7Chittenden County VT4.6 per 10,000
  8. 8Cumberland County ME4.2 per 10,000
  9. 9Kent County RI4.2 per 10,000
  10. 10Berkshire County MA4.0 per 10,000

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Aroostook County (9.1 per 10,000) is well clear of Berkshire County at #10 (4.0 per 10,000).
  • Cumberland County is the largest market in the top ten, with 4,730 people unemployed behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 1,000 people unemployed are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Counties differ in how many American Job Centers serve them for the people unemployed there. The figure shows where help is closest to the people who need it.

How to use it

Check the county page for the center nearest you and what it offers. A county with none may be served by a neighbour.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Aroostook County ME

    9.1 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    1,096
    Unemployment rate
    4.0%

    Based on 1,096 jobs.

    Aroostook County job market

  2. 2

    Strafford County NH

    7.5 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    1,329
    Unemployment rate
    1.7%

    Based on 1,329 jobs.

    Strafford County job market

  3. 3

    Franklin County MA

    7.2 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    1,384
    Unemployment rate
    3.8%

    Based on 1,384 jobs.

    Franklin County job market

  4. 4

    Merrimack County NH

    7.2 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    1,391
    Unemployment rate
    1.7%

    Based on 1,391 jobs.

    Merrimack County job market

  5. 5

    Androscoggin County ME

    5.4 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    1,842
    Unemployment rate
    3.3%

    Based on 1,842 jobs.

    Androscoggin County job market

  6. 6

    Rockingham County NH

    5.0 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    4,003
    Unemployment rate
    2.1%

    Based on 4,003 jobs.

    Rockingham County job market

  7. 7

    Chittenden County VT

    4.6 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    2,167
    Unemployment rate
    2.2%

    Based on 2,167 jobs.

    Chittenden County job market

  8. 8

    Cumberland County ME

    4.2 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    4,730
    Unemployment rate
    2.7%

    Based on 4,730 jobs.

    Cumberland County job market

  9. 9

    Kent County RI

    4.2 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    2,392
    Unemployment rate
    2.5%

    Based on 2,392 jobs.

    Kent County job market

  10. 10

    Berkshire County MA

    4.0 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    2,515
    Unemployment rate
    3.9%

    Based on 2,515 jobs.

    Berkshire County job market

  11. 11

    Penobscot County ME

    4.0 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    2,526
    Unemployment rate
    3.4%

    Based on 2,526 jobs.

    Penobscot County job market

  12. 12

    Hillsborough County NH

    3.9 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    5,177
    Unemployment rate
    2.2%

    Based on 5,177 jobs.

    Hillsborough County job market

  13. 13

    York County ME

    3.0 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    3,348
    Unemployment rate
    2.8%

    Based on 3,348 jobs.

    York County job market

  14. 14

    Barnstable County MA

    2.1 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    4,696
    Unemployment rate
    3.8%

    Based on 4,696 jobs.

    Barnstable County job market

  15. 15

    Bristol County MA

    2.1 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    3
    People unemployed
    14,135
    Unemployment rate
    4.5%

    Based on 14,135 jobs.

    Bristol County job market

  16. 16

    Providence County RI

    1.7 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    11,512
    Unemployment rate
    3.3%

    Based on 11,512 jobs.

    Providence County job market

  17. 17

    Hampden County MA

    1.7 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    11,873
    Unemployment rate
    5.3%

    Based on 11,873 jobs.

    Hampden County job market

  18. 18

    Essex County MA

    1.6 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    3
    People unemployed
    19,120
    Unemployment rate
    4.3%

    Based on 19,120 jobs.

    Essex County job market

  19. 19

    Worcester County MA

    1.5 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    3
    People unemployed
    19,590
    Unemployment rate
    4.2%

    Based on 19,590 jobs.

    Worcester County job market

  20. 20

    Suffolk County MA

    1.5 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    3
    People unemployed
    19,765
    Unemployment rate
    4.2%

    Based on 19,765 jobs.

    Suffolk County job market

  21. 21

    Norfolk County MA

    1.2 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    2
    People unemployed
    16,075
    Unemployment rate
    3.9%

    Based on 16,075 jobs.

    Norfolk County job market

  22. 22

    Middlesex County MA

    1.1 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    4
    People unemployed
    35,823
    Unemployment rate
    3.8%

    Based on 35,823 jobs.

    Middlesex County job market

  23. 23

    Plymouth County MA

    0.8 per 10,000

    American Job Centers
    1
    People unemployed
    12,297
    Unemployment rate
    4.2%

    Based on 12,297 jobs.

    Plymouth County job market

Full ranking

All 23 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Aroostook County ME9.1 per 10,0001,096
2Strafford County NH7.5 per 10,0001,329
3Franklin County MA7.2 per 10,0001,384
4Merrimack County NH7.2 per 10,0001,391
5Androscoggin County ME5.4 per 10,0001,842
6Rockingham County NH5.0 per 10,0004,003
7Chittenden County VT4.6 per 10,0002,167
8Cumberland County ME4.2 per 10,0004,730
9Kent County RI4.2 per 10,0002,392
10Berkshire County MA4.0 per 10,0002,515
11Penobscot County ME4.0 per 10,0002,526
12Hillsborough County NH3.9 per 10,0005,177
13York County ME3.0 per 10,0003,348
14Barnstable County MA2.1 per 10,0004,696
15Bristol County MA2.1 per 10,00014,135
16Providence County RI1.7 per 10,00011,512
17Hampden County MA1.7 per 10,00011,873
18Essex County MA1.6 per 10,00019,120
19Worcester County MA1.5 per 10,00019,590
20Suffolk County MA1.5 per 10,00019,765
21Norfolk County MA1.2 per 10,00016,075
22Middlesex County MA1.1 per 10,00035,823
23Plymouth County MA0.8 per 10,00012,297

How this ranking works

A county's score is its American Job Centers (CareerOneStop directory) for every 10,000 people unemployed there (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).

The figure counts places to get help, not how much help each offers. Only counties with at least one job center and 1,000 unemployed people are ranked; a center serves its surrounding area, so a county with none may be served by a neighbour.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 1,000 jobs are not ranked.

Sources: CareerOneStop American Job Center directory; 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 most job centers per unemployed person in new england?
Aroostook County has the most American Job Centers for the number of people unemployed in New England: 9.1 per 10,000, against 2.0 per 10,000 across all ranked counties.
How many counties are ranked?
23 counties have at least 1,000 people unemployed, so the list has 23 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is its American Job Centers (CareerOneStop directory) for every 10,000 people unemployed there (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted). The figure counts places to get help, not how much help each offers. Only counties with at least one job center and 1,000 unemployed people are ranked; a center serves its surrounding area, so a county with none may be served by a neighbour.
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 job centers per unemployed person in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-job-centers-per-unemployed-person-in-new-england

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-job-centers-per-unemployed-person-in-new-england">Counties with the most job centers per unemployed person in New England (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

The job market, once a week

One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.

Applying and hearing nothing back?

Find out where you stand: your odds, the jobs that fit you and a plan for the week ahead. Free. No résumé needed.

Already a member? Log in

Get my Market Reality Assessment

Run a workforce board, job center or economic development office, or hire in the places and industries on this list?

Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers.

See how organizations use it