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Fastest-growing job markets

Limestone County leads the United States for job growth: private-sector jobs are +22.8% since 2022, against +2.9% across all large counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Limestone County, AL: +22.8%
  • #2 Johnston County, NC: +21.1%
  • #3 Kaufman County, TX: +19.2%
  • 100 counties ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: +2.9% across all large counties.

  1. 1Limestone County AL+22.8%
  2. 2Johnston County NC+21.1%
  3. 3Kaufman County TX+19.2%
  4. 4Berkeley County SC+18.1%
  5. 5Pinal County AZ+17.9%
  6. 6Hays County TX+17.1%
  7. 7Brunswick County NC+16.7%
  8. 8Moore County NC+16.2%
  9. 9Rockwall County TX+16.1%
  10. 10Bronx County NY+15.3%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Limestone County leads on +22.8%, and #10 Bronx County is at +15.3%.
  • Limestone County reaches #1 on a sample of 27,283 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Bronx County is the largest market in the top ten, with 276,841 jobs behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Limestone County AL

    +22.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    27,283
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,069
    Population since 2020
    +18.0%

    Based on 27,283 jobs.

  2. 2

    Johnston County NC

    +21.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,591
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,878
    Population since 2020
    +17.9%

    Based on 56,591 jobs.

  3. 3

    Kaufman County TX

    +19.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    36,096
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,814
    Population since 2020
    +42.2%

    Based on 36,096 jobs.

  4. 4

    Berkeley County SC

    +18.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    60,097
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,223
    Population since 2020
    +18.7%

    Based on 60,097 jobs.

  5. 5

    Pinal County AZ

    +17.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    58,658
    Jobs added since 2022
    +8,913
    Population since 2020
    +25.4%

    Based on 58,658 jobs.

  6. 6

    Hays County TX

    +17.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    82,255
    Jobs added since 2022
    +11,996
    Population since 2020
    +24.8%

    Based on 82,255 jobs.

  7. 7

    Brunswick County NC

    +16.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    36,894
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,277
    Population since 2020
    +26.5%

    Based on 36,894 jobs.

  8. 8

    Moore County NC

    +16.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    38,014
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,291
    Population since 2020
    +10.3%

    Based on 38,014 jobs.

  9. 9

    Rockwall County TX

    +16.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    38,606
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,349
    Population since 2020
    +28.9%

    Based on 38,606 jobs.

  10. 10

    Bronx County NY

    +15.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    276,841
    Jobs added since 2022
    +36,797
    Population since 2020
    −3.8%

    Based on 276,841 jobs.

  11. 11

    Williamson County TX

    +14.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    209,472
    Jobs added since 2022
    +27,080
    Population since 2020
    +22.3%

    Based on 209,472 jobs.

  12. 12

    Sarpy County NE

    +14.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    72,470
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,173
    Population since 2020
    +9.0%

    Based on 72,470 jobs.

  13. 13

    Johnson County TX

    +14.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    51,580
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,378
    Population since 2020
    +20.5%

    Based on 51,580 jobs.

  14. 14

    Loudoun County VA

    +13.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    172,509
    Jobs added since 2022
    +21,104
    Population since 2020
    +6.4%

    Based on 172,509 jobs.

  15. 15

    Columbia County GA

    +13.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    36,156
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,336
    Population since 2020
    +7.9%

    Based on 36,156 jobs.

  16. 16

    Fort Bend County TX

    +13.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    213,954
    Jobs added since 2022
    +25,178
    Population since 2020
    +17.4%

    Based on 213,954 jobs.

  17. 17

    Union County NC

    +13.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    66,804
    Jobs added since 2022
    +7,788
    Population since 2020
    +11.7%

    Based on 66,804 jobs.

  18. 18

    Kings County NY

    +13.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    801,475
    Jobs added since 2022
    +92,536
    Population since 2020
    −2.5%

    Based on 801,475 jobs.

  19. 19

    Dallas County IA

    +12.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    50,982
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,624
    Population since 2020
    +17.8%

    Based on 50,982 jobs.

  20. 20

    Washington County UT

    +12.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    79,075
    Jobs added since 2022
    +8,710
    Population since 2020
    +17.4%

    Based on 79,075 jobs.

  21. 21

    Lee County FL

    +12.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    271,920
    Jobs added since 2022
    +29,720
    Population since 2020
    +14.4%

    Based on 271,920 jobs.

  22. 22

    Guadalupe County TX

    +12.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    42,596
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,554
    Population since 2020
    +15.8%

    Based on 42,596 jobs.

  23. 23

    St. Johns County FL

    +11.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    89,016
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,491
    Population since 2020
    +25.0%

    Based on 89,016 jobs.

  24. 24

    Kootenai County ID

    +11.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    63,452
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,725
    Population since 2020
    +11.0%

    Based on 63,452 jobs.

  25. 25

    Benton County AR

    +11.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    139,715
    Jobs added since 2022
    +14,787
    Population since 2020
    +16.0%

    Based on 139,715 jobs.

Full ranking

All 100 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Limestone County AL+22.8%27,283
2Johnston County NC+21.1%56,591
3Kaufman County TX+19.2%36,096
4Berkeley County SC+18.1%60,097
5Pinal County AZ+17.9%58,658
6Hays County TX+17.1%82,255
7Brunswick County NC+16.7%36,894
8Moore County NC+16.2%38,014
9Rockwall County TX+16.1%38,606
10Bronx County NY+15.3%276,841
11Williamson County TX+14.8%209,472
12Sarpy County NE+14.5%72,470
13Johnson County TX+14.1%51,580
14Loudoun County VA+13.9%172,509
15Columbia County GA+13.6%36,156
16Fort Bend County TX+13.3%213,954
17Union County NC+13.2%66,804
18Kings County NY+13.1%801,475
19Dallas County IA+12.4%50,982
20Washington County UT+12.4%79,075
21Lee County FL+12.3%271,920
22Guadalupe County TX+12.0%42,596
23St. Johns County FL+11.9%89,016
24Kootenai County ID+11.9%63,452
25Benton County AR+11.8%139,715
26Bartow County GA+11.8%42,033
27Sandoval County NM+11.7%26,499
28Gallatin County MT+11.5%65,242
29Grayson County TX+11.4%44,880
30Harnett County NC+11.4%24,200
31Midland County TX+11.4%109,487
32Pasco County FL+11.2%132,878
33Hunt County TX+11.2%24,384
34Cabarrus County NC+11.0%75,226
35Montgomery County TX+11.0%200,121
36Collin County TX+11.0%500,403
37Parker County TX+10.9%35,973
38Dorchester County SC+10.7%34,611
39Comal County TX+10.6%68,496
40Charlotte County FL+10.5%50,317
41Osceola County FL+10.4%103,518
42Doña Ana County NM+10.2%62,617
43Blount County TN+10.1%49,520
44Sussex County DE+10.0%86,295
45Sumter County FL+9.9%35,121
46Ocean County NJ+9.8%166,652
47Fairfield County OH+9.7%40,916
48Stafford County VA+9.6%38,021
49Baldwin County AL+9.6%76,195
50Weld County CO+9.6%103,697
51Manatee County FL+9.6%132,619
52Allegan County MI+9.6%37,785
53Matanuska-Susitna Borough AK+9.5%24,505
54Forsyth County GA+9.1%80,184
55Pickens County SC+9.1%29,358
56Denton County TX+9.0%273,432
57Richmond city VA+9.0%126,164
58Canadian County OK+9.0%31,278
59Aiken County SC+9.0%59,321
60Hardin County KY+8.9%38,718
61Saline County AR+8.8%24,366
62Ellis County TX+8.8%54,980
63Delaware County OH+8.7%90,800
64Dutchess County NY+8.6%97,834
65Lake County FL+8.6%105,896
66Wilson County TN+8.5%59,161
67Walworth County WI+8.4%39,342
68Carroll County GA+8.4%39,158
69Queens County NY+8.4%628,123
70Lee County AL+8.4%50,806
71Washington County RI+8.3%51,344
72Anne Arundel County MD+8.3%242,459
73Warren County NJ+8.3%29,187
74Kenosha County WI+8.3%67,693
75Faulkner County AR+8.2%39,319
76Paulding County GA+8.1%24,525
77Hall County GA+8.1%91,930
78Hamilton County TN+8.1%196,986
79Collier County FL+8.1%158,646
80Prince William County VA+8.1%114,045
81Clayton County GA+8.0%115,294
82Coconino County AZ+8.0%52,025
83San Juan County NM+8.0%36,426
84Ector County TX+7.9%70,023
85Clay County FL+7.8%49,744
86Madison County AL+7.8%185,383
87Nueces County TX+7.8%138,165
88Santa Rosa County FL+7.8%37,611
89Miami-Dade County FL+7.8%1,138,710
90Cherokee County GA+7.7%64,008
91Montgomery County TN+7.7%52,589
92St. Lucie County FL+7.7%78,023
93Henderson County NC+7.7%37,995
94Canyon County ID+7.7%80,156
95Marion County OR+7.7%136,757
96Warren County KY+7.6%62,581
97Clark County NV+7.6%1,026,102
98Morgan County AL+7.5%46,803
99Jefferson County TX+7.5%108,041
100Lake County OH+7.5%89,248

How this ranking works

A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2022 to 2025; Census Bureau population estimates, 2020 to 2025. 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: fastest-growing job markets?
Limestone County leads the United States for job growth: private-sector jobs are +22.8% since 2022, against +2.9% across all large counties.
How many counties are ranked?
100 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.
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, “Fastest-growing job markets,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets">Fastest-growing job markets (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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