{"h1":"Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Southwest","faq":[{"a":"Bastrop County has the most professional job openings per unemployed person in the Southwest: 19 per 100 unemployed people, against 5 per 100 across all ranked counties.","q":"Which county ranks first: counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the southwest?"},{"a":"32 counties have at least 100 openings, so the list has 32 entries.","q":"How many counties are ranked?"},{"a":"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.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"Bastrop County has the most professional job openings per unemployed person in the Southwest: 19 per 100 unemployed people, against 5 per 100 across all ranked counties.","minN":100,"rows":[{"n":419,"bar":1,"key":"48021","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/bastrop-county","name":"Bastrop County","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"419"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"2,189"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.7%"}],"value":19.1411603471905,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"19 per 100"},{"n":5850,"bar":0.967226106120429,"key":"48453","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/travis-county","name":"Travis County","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"5,850"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"31,598"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.6%"}],"value":18.51382998923982,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"19 per 100"},{"n":6562,"bar":0.556908008676219,"key":"48113","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/dallas-county","name":"Dallas County","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"6,562"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"61,558"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.2%"}],"value":10.65986549270606,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"11 per 100"},{"n":135,"bar":0.4372513305526251,"key":"48473","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/waller-county","name":"Waller County","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"135"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"1,613"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"5.1%"}],"value":8.369497830130191,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"8 per 100"},{"n":128,"bar":0.3151347740119984,"key":"48375","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/potter-county","name":"Potter County","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"128"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"2,122"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.0%"}],"value":6.032045240339302,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"6 per 100"},{"n":5165,"bar":0.2696405132606419,"key":"04013","sub":"AZ","href":"/places/arizona/county/maricopa-county","name":"Maricopa County","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"5,165"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"100,073"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.1%"}],"value":5.161232300420693,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"5 per 100"},{"n":1498,"bar":0.2674298395904749,"key":"48085","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/collin-county","name":"Collin County","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"1,498"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"29,264"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.1%"}],"value":5.118917441224713,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"5 per 100"},{"n":128,"bar":0.2555276998293698,"key":"48441","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/taylor-county","name":"Taylor County","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"128"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"2,617"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.5%"}],"value":4.891096675582729,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"5 per 100"},{"n":154,"bar":0.2413888166859646,"key":"48329","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/midland-county","name":"Midland County","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"154"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"3,333"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.2%"}],"value":4.62046204620462,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"5 per 100"},{"n":416,"bar":0.2301765482920723,"key":"32031","sub":"NV","href":"/places/nevada/county/washoe-county","name":"Washoe County","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"416"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"9,442"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.5%"}],"value":4.405846219021393,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":4986,"bar":0.221999876982618,"key":"48201","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/harris-county","name":"Harris County","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"4,986"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"117,336"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.6%"}],"value":4.249335242380855,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":121,"bar":0.2173068355880155,"key":"48397","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/rockwall-county","name":"Rockwall County","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"121"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"2,909"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.8%"}],"value":4.159504984530766,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":104,"bar":0.2144166307195883,"key":"48231","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/hunt-county","name":"Hunt County","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"104"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"2,534"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.4%"}],"value":4.104183109707972,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":209,"bar":0.2059000241678845,"key":"48309","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/mclennan-county","name":"McLennan County","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"209"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"5,303"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.0%"}],"value":3.941165378087875,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":542,"bar":0.2022567337197409,"key":"40143","sub":"OK","href":"/places/oklahoma/county/tulsa-county","name":"Tulsa County","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"542"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"14,000"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.9%"}],"value":3.871428571428571,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":605,"bar":0.194374757003117,"key":"40109","sub":"OK","href":"/places/oklahoma/county/oklahoma-county","name":"Oklahoma County","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"605"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"16,261"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.8%"}],"value":3.720558391242851,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":1851,"bar":0.1918968932827594,"key":"48439","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/tarrant-county","name":"Tarrant County","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"1,851"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"50,393"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.1%"}],"value":3.673129204453,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"4 per 100"},{"n":691,"bar":0.1560348149945368,"key":"04019","sub":"AZ","href":"/places/arizona/county/pima-county","name":"Pima County","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"691"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"23,136"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.8%"}],"value":2.986687413554634,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"3 per 100"},{"n":1327,"bar":0.1529689119233741,"key":"48029","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/bexar-county","name":"Bexar County","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"1,327"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"45,321"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.3%"}],"value":2.928002471260564,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"3 per 100"},{"n":130,"bar":0.139430235640381,"key":"48423","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/smith-county","name":"Smith County","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"130"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"4,871"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.0%"}],"value":2.668856497639088,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"3 per 100"},{"n":378,"bar":0.1284591107336158,"key":"35001","sub":"NM","href":"/places/new-mexico/county/bernalillo-county","name":"Bernalillo County","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"378"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"15,373"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.6%"}],"value":2.45885643660964,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":146,"bar":0.1219431137667432,"key":"48303","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/lubbock-county","name":"Lubbock County","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"146"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"6,255"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.7%"}],"value":2.334132693844924,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":132,"bar":0.09175270957359384,"key":"48355","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/nueces-county","name":"Nueces County","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"132"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"7,516"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.4%"}],"value":1.75625332623736,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":287,"bar":0.0916999960152204,"key":"48491","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/williamson-county","name":"Williamson County","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"287"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"16,351"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.7%"}],"value":1.755244327564063,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":1031,"bar":0.09081602308810673,"key":"32003","sub":"NV","href":"/places/nevada/county/clark-county","name":"Clark County","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"1,031"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"59,310"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.8%"}],"value":1.738324060023605,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":416,"bar":0.08969200482744201,"key":"48121","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/denton-county","name":"Denton County","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"416"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"24,231"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"3.9%"}],"value":1.716809046263051,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":307,"bar":0.0887785624019275,"key":"48141","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/el-paso-county","name":"El Paso County","rank":27,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"307"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"18,066"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.3%"}],"value":1.699324698328352,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":271,"bar":0.08734635918552573,"key":"48339","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/montgomery-county","name":"Montgomery County","rank":28,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"271"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"16,209"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.3%"}],"value":1.671910666913443,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":137,"bar":0.0849134041442899,"key":"48167","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/galveston-county","name":"Galveston County","rank":29,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"137"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"8,429"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.6%"}],"value":1.625341084351643,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"2 per 100"},{"n":132,"bar":0.06382354143036847,"key":"04021","sub":"AZ","href":"/places/arizona/county/pinal-county","name":"Pinal County","rank":30,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"132"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"10,805"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.8%"}],"value":1.221656640444239,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"1 per 100"},{"n":131,"bar":0.06146838705583919,"key":"48061","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/cameron-county","name":"Cameron County","rank":31,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"131"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"11,134"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"5.9%"}],"value":1.176576252918987,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"1 per 100"},{"n":183,"bar":0.04391818147831467,"key":"48157","sub":"TX","href":"/places/texas/county/fort-bend-county","name":"Fort Bend County","rank":32,"stats":[{"label":"Professional openings","value":"183"},{"label":"People unemployed","value":"21,769"},{"label":"Unemployment rate","value":"4.5%"}],"value":0.8406449538334329,"change":null,"employers":[],"valueLabel":"1 per 100"}],"slug":"counties-with-the-most-openings-per-unemployed-person-in-the-southwest","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"southwest","kind":"region","name":"Southwest"},"title":"Counties with the most job openings per unemployed person in the Southwest","family":"Workforce","method":["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."],"builtAt":"2026-11-04T03:37:37.436Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"perunemp","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles by county","Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (not seasonally adjusted)"],"baseline":{"label":"all ranked counties","valueLabel":"5 per 100"},"keyFacts":["#1 Bastrop County, TX: 19 per 100","#2 Travis County, TX: 19 per 100","#3 Dallas County, TX: 11 per 100","32 counties ranked in the Southwest","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"counties","commentary":["The lead is wide: Bastrop County (19 per 100) is well clear of Washoe County at #10 (4 per 100).","Potter County reaches #5 on a sample of 128 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.","Dallas County is the largest market in the top ten, with 6,562 openings behind its figure.","Counties with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-most-openings-per-unemployed-person-in-the-southwest"}