Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Pacific Northwest
Key facts
- #1 King County, WA: 13 per 100
- #2 Polk County, OR: 7 per 100
- #3 Multnomah County, OR: 4 per 100
- 11 counties ranked in the Pacific Northwest
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: 6 per 100 across all ranked counties.
- 1King County WA13 per 100
- 2Polk County OR7 per 100
- 3Multnomah County OR4 per 100
- 4Benton County WA4 per 100
- 5Washington County OR3 per 100
- 6Deschutes County OR2 per 100
- 7Spokane County WA2 per 100
- 8Clark County WA2 per 100
- 9Snohomish County WA2 per 100
- 10Lane County OR2 per 100
What stands out
- The lead is wide: King County (13 per 100) is well clear of Lane County at #10 (2 per 100).
- King County is the largest market in the top ten, with 8,591 openings behind its figure.
- Counties with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Counties differ in how many professional openings there are for each person looking for work. The ratio is one way to compare how much hiring is happening in a place against how many people need it.
How to use it
Use it to compare places, not to count your own odds. Our openings cover professional roles on the career sites we track, and the unemployed include people in every kind of work.
The top 25
- 1
King County WA
13 per 100
- Professional openings
- 8,591
- People unemployed
- 65,564
- Unemployment rate
- 4.8%
Based on 8,591 openings.
- 2
Polk County OR
7 per 100
- Professional openings
- 128
- People unemployed
- 1,923
- Unemployment rate
- 4.0%
Based on 128 openings.
- 3
Multnomah County OR
4 per 100
- Professional openings
- 843
- People unemployed
- 20,107
- Unemployment rate
- 4.3%
Based on 843 openings.
- 4
Benton County WA
4 per 100
- Professional openings
- 133
- People unemployed
- 3,657
- Unemployment rate
- 3.5%
Based on 133 openings.
- 5
Washington County OR
3 per 100
- Professional openings
- 436
- People unemployed
- 14,060
- Unemployment rate
- 4.1%
Based on 436 openings.
- 6
Deschutes County OR
2 per 100
- Professional openings
- 100
- People unemployed
- 4,373
- Unemployment rate
- 3.9%
Based on 100 openings.
- 7
Spokane County WA
2 per 100
- Professional openings
- 179
- People unemployed
- 8,480
- Unemployment rate
- 3.2%
Based on 179 openings.
- 8
Clark County WA
2 per 100
- Professional openings
- 174
- People unemployed
- 9,201
- Unemployment rate
- 3.6%
Based on 174 openings.
- 9
Snohomish County WA
2 per 100
- Professional openings
- 371
- People unemployed
- 22,661
- Unemployment rate
- 4.9%
Based on 371 openings.
- 10
Lane County OR
2 per 100
- Professional openings
- 132
- People unemployed
- 8,335
- Unemployment rate
- 4.4%
Based on 132 openings.
- 11
Pierce County WA
1 per 100
- Professional openings
- 241
- People unemployed
- 25,625
- Unemployment rate
- 5.1%
Based on 241 openings.
Full ranking
All 11 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | County | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King County WA | 13 per 100 | 8,591 |
| 2 | Polk County OR | 7 per 100 | 128 |
| 3 | Multnomah County OR | 4 per 100 | 843 |
| 4 | Benton County WA | 4 per 100 | 133 |
| 5 | Washington County OR | 3 per 100 | 436 |
| 6 | Deschutes County OR | 2 per 100 | 100 |
| 7 | Spokane County WA | 2 per 100 | 179 |
| 8 | Clark County WA | 2 per 100 | 174 |
| 9 | Snohomish County WA | 2 per 100 | 371 |
| 10 | Lane County OR | 2 per 100 | 132 |
| 11 | Pierce County WA | 1 per 100 | 241 |
How this ranking works
A county's score is the number of open professional roles in our data, per 100 people unemployed there (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted). Roles are placed in the county of the city their posting names; remote and statewide roles are left out.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, and the unemployed include people in every kind of work, so the figure compares places with one another; it is not a count of the jobs an unemployed person could take. Only counties with at least 100 openings and 500 unemployed people are ranked.
Sample bar: counties with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles by county; 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 openings per unemployed person in the pacific northwest?
- King County has the most professional job openings per unemployed person in the Pacific Northwest: 13 per 100 unemployed people, against 6 per 100 across all ranked counties.
- How many counties are ranked?
- 11 counties have at least 100 openings, so the list has 11 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A county's score is the number of open professional roles in our data, per 100 people unemployed there (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted). Roles are placed in the county of the city their posting names; remote and statewide roles are left out. Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, and the unemployed include people in every kind of work, so the figure compares places with one another; it is not a count of the jobs an unemployed person could take. Only counties with at least 100 openings and 500 unemployed people 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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Pacific Northwest
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Pacific Northwest
- Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Pacific Northwest
- Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Pacific Northwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-openings-per-unemployed-person-in-the-pacific-northwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-openings-per-unemployed-person-in-the-pacific-northwest">Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Pacific Northwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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