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Fastest-growing job markets in the Great Lakes

Fairfield County leads the Great Lakes for job growth: private-sector jobs are +9.7% since 2022, against +1.7% across all large counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Fairfield County, OH: +9.7%
  • #2 Allegan County, MI: +9.6%
  • #3 Delaware County, OH: +8.7%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: +1.7% across all large counties.

  1. 1Fairfield County OH+9.7%
  2. 2Allegan County MI+9.6%
  3. 3Delaware County OH+8.7%
  4. 4Walworth County WI+8.4%
  5. 5Kenosha County WI+8.3%
  6. 6Lake County OH+7.5%
  7. 7Greene County OH+7.3%
  8. 8Scott County MN+7.0%
  9. 9Butler County OH+6.9%
  10. 10Eaton County MI+6.9%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Fairfield County leads on +9.7%, and #10 Eaton County is at +6.9%.
  • Butler County is the largest market in the top ten, with 146,248 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

    Fairfield County OH

    +9.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    40,916
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,628
    Population since 2020
    +6.5%

    Based on 40,916 jobs.

  2. 2

    Allegan County MI

    +9.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    37,785
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,300
    Population since 2020
    +2.1%

    Based on 37,785 jobs.

  3. 3

    Delaware County OH

    +8.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    90,800
    Jobs added since 2022
    +7,233
    Population since 2020
    +12.5%

    Based on 90,800 jobs.

  4. 4

    Walworth County WI

    +8.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    39,342
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,058
    Population since 2020
    +0.8%

    Based on 39,342 jobs.

  5. 5

    Kenosha County WI

    +8.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    67,693
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,162
    Population since 2020
    −0.4%

    Based on 67,693 jobs.

  6. 6

    Lake County OH

    +7.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    89,248
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,216
    Population since 2020
    −0.1%

    Based on 89,248 jobs.

  7. 7

    Greene County OH

    +7.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,792
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,882
    Population since 2020
    +3.7%

    Based on 56,792 jobs.

  8. 8

    Scott County MN

    +7.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    53,752
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,531
    Population since 2020
    +5.1%

    Based on 53,752 jobs.

  9. 9

    Butler County OH

    +6.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    146,248
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,436
    Population since 2020
    +2.4%

    Based on 146,248 jobs.

  10. 10

    Eaton County MI

    +6.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    39,598
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,548
    Population since 2020
    +0.4%

    Based on 39,598 jobs.

  11. 11

    Johnson County IN

    +6.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    58,288
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,748
    Population since 2020
    +7.4%

    Based on 58,288 jobs.

  12. 12

    Wright County MN

    +6.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    42,450
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,634
    Population since 2020
    +11.1%

    Based on 42,450 jobs.

  13. 13

    Clark County IN

    +6.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    54,970
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,390
    Population since 2020
    +7.5%

    Based on 54,970 jobs.

  14. 14

    Hamilton County IN

    +6.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    151,962
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,164
    Population since 2020
    +10.9%

    Based on 151,962 jobs.

  15. 15

    Licking County OH

    +6.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    66,539
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,842
    Population since 2020
    +3.8%

    Based on 66,539 jobs.

  16. 16

    Rock County WI

    +6.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    61,757
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,516
    Population since 2020
    +1.7%

    Based on 61,757 jobs.

  17. 17

    Madison County IL

    +5.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    92,904
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,207
    Population since 2020
    −1.0%

    Based on 92,904 jobs.

  18. 18

    Portage County OH

    +5.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    46,406
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,254
    Population since 2020
    +1.0%

    Based on 46,406 jobs.

  19. 19

    Washington County MN

    +5.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    85,447
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,090
    Population since 2020
    +6.9%

    Based on 85,447 jobs.

  20. 20

    Medina County OH

    +4.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,179
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,642
    Population since 2020
    +1.3%

    Based on 56,179 jobs.

  21. 21

    Trumbull County OH

    +4.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,309
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,529
    Population since 2020
    −1.3%

    Based on 56,309 jobs.

  22. 22

    Olmsted County MN

    +4.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    96,322
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,228
    Population since 2020
    +2.3%

    Based on 96,322 jobs.

  23. 23

    Porter County IN

    +4.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    57,194
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,505
    Population since 2020
    +1.6%

    Based on 57,194 jobs.

  24. 24

    Will County IL

    +4.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    234,668
    Jobs added since 2022
    +10,128
    Population since 2020
    +2.2%

    Based on 234,668 jobs.

  25. 25

    Calhoun County MI

    +4.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    44,258
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,887
    Population since 2020
    −0.6%

    Based on 44,258 jobs.

Full ranking

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

RankCountyScoreSample
1Fairfield County OH+9.7%40,916
2Allegan County MI+9.6%37,785
3Delaware County OH+8.7%90,800
4Walworth County WI+8.4%39,342
5Kenosha County WI+8.3%67,693
6Lake County OH+7.5%89,248
7Greene County OH+7.3%56,792
8Scott County MN+7.0%53,752
9Butler County OH+6.9%146,248
10Eaton County MI+6.9%39,598
11Johnson County IN+6.9%58,288
12Wright County MN+6.6%42,450
13Clark County IN+6.6%54,970
14Hamilton County IN+6.4%151,962
15Licking County OH+6.1%66,539
16Rock County WI+6.0%61,757
17Madison County IL+5.9%92,904
18Portage County OH+5.1%46,406
19Washington County MN+5.0%85,447
20Medina County OH+4.9%56,179
21Trumbull County OH+4.7%56,309
22Olmsted County MN+4.6%96,322
23Porter County IN+4.6%57,194
24Will County IL+4.5%234,668
25Calhoun County MI+4.5%44,258
26Lorain County OH+4.4%84,162
27Clermont County OH+4.3%55,541
28Monroe County MI+4.3%35,197
29DuPage County IL+4.2%580,016
30Stearns County MN+4.0%76,313
31Dane County WI+3.6%279,473
32Wood County OH+3.6%64,771
33Vigo County IN+3.4%39,854
34St. Joseph County IN+3.4%109,856
35Kendall County IL+3.4%24,660
36Kent County MI+3.3%390,596
37Livingston County MI+3.2%57,529
38Brown County WI+3.1%143,373
39Genesee County MI+3.1%116,565
40Lake County IN+3.1%169,442
41Franklin County OH+2.8%658,496
42Racine County WI+2.8%67,033
43McLean County IL+2.6%74,167
44Sheboygan County WI+2.5%55,244
45Madison County IN+2.4%34,036
46La Crosse County WI+2.4%62,282
47Waukesha County WI+2.3%232,020
48Outagamie County WI+2.3%98,408
49Warren County OH+2.3%91,759
50Allen County IN+2.3%181,044
51Montgomery County OH+2.3%221,157
52Washtenaw County MI+2.3%134,542
53Marion County IN+2.2%547,394
54McHenry County IL+2.1%83,397
55Ramsey County MN+2.1%274,775
56St. Louis County MN+2.1%80,266
57Anoka County MN+2.1%117,057
58Stark County OH+2.1%139,782
59Cook County IL+2.0%2,284,919
60Washington County WI+1.9%53,031
61Allen County OH+1.9%44,189
62Berrien County MI+1.8%52,215
63Columbiana County OH+1.8%23,738
64Winnebago County WI+1.7%82,680
65Miami County OH+1.6%36,763
66Wayne County OH+1.6%41,610
67Dakota County MN+1.4%166,150
68LaPorte County IN+1.4%34,198
69Ingham County MI+1.4%108,056
70Kalamazoo County MI+1.4%109,092
71Tazewell County IL+1.3%39,708
72Tippecanoe County IN+1.3%73,149
73Hennepin County MN+1.1%825,100
74Richland County OH+1.0%41,445
75Eau Claire County WI+0.7%51,645
76Delaware County IN+0.7%36,489
77Hendricks County IN+0.6%70,864
78Vanderburgh County IN+0.6%98,074
79Winnebago County IL+0.6%112,356
80Monroe County IN+0.5%50,598
81Saginaw County MI+0.5%69,804
82Milwaukee County WI+0.4%414,860
83Bay County MI+0.4%29,019
84Summit County OH+0.4%232,747
85Kane County IL+0.4%181,324
86Wayne County MI+0.3%636,226
87Carver County MN+0.3%35,479
88Hamilton County OH+0.1%459,152
89Oakland County MI+0.1%673,280
90Mahoning County OH−0.1%80,918
91Muskegon County MI−0.6%54,648
92Macomb County MI−0.8%296,284
93Lake County IL−0.9%285,312
94St. Clair County IL−0.9%71,602
95Peoria County IL−1.1%91,480
96Lucas County OH−1.3%167,792
97Ottawa County MI−1.5%113,317
98Marathon County WI−1.5%62,577
99Champaign County IL−1.7%67,040
100DeKalb County IL−1.8%27,522

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 in the great lakes?
Fairfield County leads the Great Lakes for job growth: private-sector jobs are +9.7% since 2022, against +1.7% 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 in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-great-lakes

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

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

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