NextChapter

Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Southeast

Charlottesville city has the most professional job openings per unemployed person in the Southeast: 67 per 100 unemployed people, against 7 per 100 across all ranked counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Charlottesville city, VA: 67 per 100
  • #2 Arlington County, VA: 45 per 100
  • #3 Manassas city, VA: 30 per 100
  • 79 counties ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 7 per 100 across all ranked counties.

  1. 1Charlottesville city VA67 per 100
  2. 2Arlington County VA45 per 100
  3. 3Manassas city VA30 per 100
  4. 4Fulton County GA28 per 100
  5. 5Richmond city VA22 per 100
  6. 6Fairfax County VA20 per 100
  7. 7Alexandria city VA19 per 100
  8. 8Anderson County TN19 per 100
  9. 9Madison County AL17 per 100
  10. 10Franklin County KY16 per 100

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Charlottesville city (67 per 100) is well clear of Franklin County at #10 (16 per 100).
  • Franklin County reaches #10 on a sample of 170 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Fulton County is the largest market in the top ten, with 6,189 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. 1

    Charlottesville city VA

    67 per 100

    Professional openings
    503
    People unemployed
    753
    Unemployment rate
    3.0%

    Based on 503 openings.

    Charlottesville city job market

  2. 2

    Arlington County VA

    45 per 100

    Professional openings
    1,989
    People unemployed
    4,389
    Unemployment rate
    2.9%

    Based on 1,989 openings.

    Arlington County job market

  3. 3

    Manassas city VA

    30 per 100

    Professional openings
    228
    People unemployed
    748
    Unemployment rate
    3.2%

    Based on 228 openings.

    Manassas city job market

  4. 4

    Fulton County GA

    28 per 100

    Professional openings
    6,189
    People unemployed
    22,075
    Unemployment rate
    3.6%

    Based on 6,189 openings.

    Fulton County job market

  5. 5

    Richmond city VA

    22 per 100

    Professional openings
    1,147
    People unemployed
    5,278
    Unemployment rate
    4.1%

    Based on 1,147 openings.

    Richmond city job market

  6. 6

    Fairfax County VA

    20 per 100

    Professional openings
    4,186
    People unemployed
    21,426
    Unemployment rate
    3.4%

    Based on 4,186 openings.

    Fairfax County job market

  7. 7

    Alexandria city VA

    19 per 100

    Professional openings
    583
    People unemployed
    3,092
    Unemployment rate
    3.2%

    Based on 583 openings.

    Alexandria city job market

  8. 8

    Anderson County TN

    19 per 100

    Professional openings
    212
    People unemployed
    1,132
    Unemployment rate
    3.1%

    Based on 212 openings.

    Anderson County job market

  9. 9

    Madison County AL

    17 per 100

    Professional openings
    1,230
    People unemployed
    7,183
    Unemployment rate
    3.2%

    Based on 1,230 openings.

    Madison County job market

  10. 10

    Franklin County KY

    16 per 100

    Professional openings
    170
    People unemployed
    1,087
    Unemployment rate
    3.9%

    Based on 170 openings.

    Franklin County job market

  11. 11

    Mecklenburg County NC

    15 per 100

    Professional openings
    3,231
    People unemployed
    21,640
    Unemployment rate
    3.3%

    Based on 3,231 openings.

    Mecklenburg County job market

  12. 12

    Durham County NC

    14 per 100

    Professional openings
    759
    People unemployed
    5,271
    Unemployment rate
    2.8%

    Based on 759 openings.

    Durham County job market

  13. 13

    Davidson County TN

    13 per 100

    Professional openings
    1,636
    People unemployed
    12,152
    Unemployment rate
    2.8%

    Based on 1,636 openings.

    Davidson County job market

  14. 14

    Miami-Dade County FL

    12 per 100

    Professional openings
    3,265
    People unemployed
    27,597
    Unemployment rate
    1.9%

    Based on 3,265 openings.

    Miami-Dade County job market

  15. 15

    Jefferson County KY

    11 per 100

    Professional openings
    2,081
    People unemployed
    18,515
    Unemployment rate
    4.6%

    Based on 2,081 openings.

    Jefferson County job market

  16. 16

    Leon County FL

    10 per 100

    Professional openings
    763
    People unemployed
    7,446
    Unemployment rate
    4.5%

    Based on 763 openings.

    Leon County job market

  17. 17

    Wake County NC

    10 per 100

    Professional openings
    1,908
    People unemployed
    19,248
    Unemployment rate
    2.8%

    Based on 1,908 openings.

    Wake County job market

  18. 18

    Roanoke city VA

    9 per 100

    Professional openings
    181
    People unemployed
    1,913
    Unemployment rate
    3.9%

    Based on 181 openings.

    Roanoke city job market

  19. 19

    Williamson County TN

    9 per 100

    Professional openings
    335
    People unemployed
    3,841
    Unemployment rate
    2.7%

    Based on 335 openings.

    Williamson County job market

  20. 20

    Iredell County NC

    9 per 100

    Professional openings
    259
    People unemployed
    3,012
    Unemployment rate
    2.9%

    Based on 259 openings.

    Iredell County job market

  21. 21

    Loudoun County VA

    8 per 100

    Professional openings
    638
    People unemployed
    8,312
    Unemployment rate
    3.4%

    Based on 638 openings.

    Loudoun County job market

  22. 22

    Norfolk city VA

    7 per 100

    Professional openings
    327
    People unemployed
    4,457
    Unemployment rate
    4.2%

    Based on 327 openings.

    Norfolk city job market

  23. 23

    Lynchburg city VA

    7 per 100

    Professional openings
    113
    People unemployed
    1,724
    Unemployment rate
    4.7%

    Based on 113 openings.

    Lynchburg city job market

  24. 24

    Guilford County NC

    6 per 100

    Professional openings
    560
    People unemployed
    9,105
    Unemployment rate
    3.4%

    Based on 560 openings.

    Guilford County job market

  25. 25

    Knox County TN

    6 per 100

    Professional openings
    443
    People unemployed
    7,314
    Unemployment rate
    2.8%

    Based on 443 openings.

    Knox County job market

Full ranking

All 79 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Charlottesville city VA67 per 100503
2Arlington County VA45 per 1001,989
3Manassas city VA30 per 100228
4Fulton County GA28 per 1006,189
5Richmond city VA22 per 1001,147
6Fairfax County VA20 per 1004,186
7Alexandria city VA19 per 100583
8Anderson County TN19 per 100212
9Madison County AL17 per 1001,230
10Franklin County KY16 per 100170
11Mecklenburg County NC15 per 1003,231
12Durham County NC14 per 100759
13Davidson County TN13 per 1001,636
14Miami-Dade County FL12 per 1003,265
15Jefferson County KY11 per 1002,081
16Leon County FL10 per 100763
17Wake County NC10 per 1001,908
18Roanoke city VA9 per 100181
19Williamson County TN9 per 100335
20Iredell County NC9 per 100259
21Loudoun County VA8 per 100638
22Norfolk city VA7 per 100327
23Lynchburg city VA7 per 100113
24Guilford County NC6 per 100560
25Knox County TN6 per 100443
26Montgomery County VA6 per 100113
27Brevard County FL6 per 100779
28New Hanover County NC5 per 100195
29Jefferson County AL5 per 100641
30Hillsborough County FL5 per 1001,856
31Richmond County GA5 per 100199
32Catawba County NC5 per 100108
33Duval County FL5 per 1001,069
34Montgomery County AL5 per 100187
35Richland County SC4 per 100374
36Charleston County SC4 per 100327
37Chatham County GA4 per 100217
38Pitt County NC4 per 100129
39Cobb County GA4 per 100620
40Sullivan County TN4 per 100100
41Orange County FL4 per 1001,413
42Shelby County TN4 per 100752
43Hampton city VA4 per 100111
44Greenville County SC4 per 100371
45Houston County GA4 per 100100
46DeSoto County MS4 per 100113
47Hinds County MS4 per 100119
48Buncombe County NC3 per 100136
49Okaloosa County FL3 per 100145
50Bibb County GA3 per 100100
51Gwinnett County GA3 per 100601
52Newport News city VA3 per 100123
53Hamilton County TN3 per 100204
54Hall County GA3 per 100110
55Virginia Beach city VA3 per 100259
56Fayette County KY3 per 100213
57York County SC3 per 100175
58Chesapeake city VA3 per 100132
59Muscogee County GA3 per 100106
60Cabarrus County NC3 per 100103
61Pinellas County FL3 per 100550
62Broward County FL3 per 1001,142
63Escambia County FL3 per 100177
64Collier County FL2 per 100213
65Palm Beach County FL2 per 100821
66Cumberland County NC2 per 100116
67Alachua County FL2 per 100151
68Sarasota County FL2 per 100202
69Seminole County FL2 per 100210
70Spartanburg County SC2 per 100121
71Mobile County AL2 per 100145
72Rutherford County TN2 per 100105
73Forsyth County NC2 per 100101
74Prince William County VA2 per 100152
75DeKalb County GA2 per 100226
76Henrico County VA1 per 100100
77Lee County FL1 per 100223
78Volusia County FL1 per 100161
79Polk County FL1 per 100185

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 southeast?
Charlottesville city has the most professional job openings per unemployed person in the Southeast: 67 per 100 unemployed people, against 7 per 100 across all ranked counties.
How many counties are ranked?
79 counties have at least 100 openings, so the list has 79 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

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-openings-per-unemployed-person-in-the-southeast

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

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

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