NextChapter

Fastest-growing job markets in the Mountain West

Washington County leads the Mountain West for job growth: private-sector jobs are +12.4% since 2022, against +4.1% across all large counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Washington County, UT: +12.4%
  • #2 Kootenai County, ID: +11.9%
  • #3 Gallatin County, MT: +11.5%
  • 28 counties ranked in the Mountain West
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: +4.1% across all large counties.

  1. 1Washington County UT+12.4%
  2. 2Kootenai County ID+11.9%
  3. 3Gallatin County MT+11.5%
  4. 4Weld County CO+9.6%
  5. 5Canyon County ID+7.7%
  6. 6Clark County NV+7.6%
  7. 7Flathead County MT+7.5%
  8. 8Bonneville County ID+7.1%
  9. 9Ada County ID+7.0%
  10. 10Laramie County WY+5.5%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Washington County (+12.4%) is well clear of Laramie County at #10 (+5.5%).
  • Laramie County reaches #10 on a sample of 34,933 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Clark County is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,026,102 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

    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.

  2. 2

    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.

  3. 3

    Gallatin County MT

    +11.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    65,242
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,755
    Population since 2020
    +7.6%

    Based on 65,242 jobs.

  4. 4

    Weld County CO

    +9.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    103,697
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,085
    Population since 2020
    +14.2%

    Based on 103,697 jobs.

  5. 5

    Canyon County ID

    +7.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    80,156
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,719
    Population since 2020
    +18.1%

    Based on 80,156 jobs.

  6. 6

    Clark County NV

    +7.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    1,026,102
    Jobs added since 2022
    +72,432
    Population since 2020
    +5.8%

    Based on 1,026,102 jobs.

  7. 7

    Flathead County MT

    +7.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    45,901
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,187
    Population since 2020
    +10.1%

    Based on 45,901 jobs.

  8. 8

    Bonneville County ID

    +7.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,558
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,745
    Population since 2020
    +8.9%

    Based on 56,558 jobs.

  9. 9

    Ada County ID

    +7.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    256,007
    Jobs added since 2022
    +16,731
    Population since 2020
    +9.6%

    Based on 256,007 jobs.

  10. 10

    Laramie County WY

    +5.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    34,933
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,833
    Population since 2020
    +2.2%

    Based on 34,933 jobs.

  11. 11

    Adams County CO

    +5.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    201,588
    Jobs added since 2022
    +10,032
    Population since 2020
    +6.6%

    Based on 201,588 jobs.

  12. 12

    Douglas County CO

    +5.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    132,547
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,284
    Population since 2020
    +10.8%

    Based on 132,547 jobs.

  13. 13

    Missoula County MT

    +4.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    55,899
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,625
    Population since 2020
    +4.4%

    Based on 55,899 jobs.

  14. 14

    Weber County UT

    +4.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    100,037
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,624
    Population since 2020
    +5.8%

    Based on 100,037 jobs.

  15. 15

    El Paso County CO

    +4.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    253,988
    Jobs added since 2022
    +10,388
    Population since 2020
    +3.2%

    Based on 253,988 jobs.

  16. 16

    Utah County UT

    +4.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    265,684
    Jobs added since 2022
    +10,819
    Population since 2020
    +14.5%

    Based on 265,684 jobs.

  17. 17

    Salt Lake County UT

    +3.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    693,564
    Jobs added since 2022
    +25,343
    Population since 2020
    +2.9%

    Based on 693,564 jobs.

  18. 18

    Washoe County NV

    +3.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    213,861
    Jobs added since 2022
    +7,285
    Population since 2020
    +4.4%

    Based on 213,861 jobs.

  19. 19

    Davis County UT

    +3.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    112,916
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,821
    Population since 2020
    +4.8%

    Based on 112,916 jobs.

  20. 20

    Mesa County CO

    +3.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    56,117
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,838
    Population since 2020
    +4.4%

    Based on 56,117 jobs.

  21. 21

    Yellowstone County MT

    +2.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    78,381
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,957
    Population since 2020
    +4.5%

    Based on 78,381 jobs.

  22. 22

    Jefferson County CO

    +0.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    210,961
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,862
    Population since 2020
    −0.5%

    Based on 210,961 jobs.

  23. 23

    Larimer County CO

    +0.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    136,039
    Jobs added since 2022
    +1,075
    Population since 2020
    +4.8%

    Based on 136,039 jobs.

  24. 24

    Arapahoe County CO

    +0.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    299,680
    Jobs added since 2022
    +700
    Population since 2020
    +2.8%

    Based on 299,680 jobs.

  25. 25

    Denver County CO

    −0.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    486,058
    Jobs added since 2022
    −354
    Population since 2020
    +3.2%

    Based on 486,058 jobs.

Full ranking

All 28 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Washington County UT+12.4%79,075
2Kootenai County ID+11.9%63,452
3Gallatin County MT+11.5%65,242
4Weld County CO+9.6%103,697
5Canyon County ID+7.7%80,156
6Clark County NV+7.6%1,026,102
7Flathead County MT+7.5%45,901
8Bonneville County ID+7.1%56,558
9Ada County ID+7.0%256,007
10Laramie County WY+5.5%34,933
11Adams County CO+5.2%201,588
12Douglas County CO+5.0%132,547
13Missoula County MT+4.9%55,899
14Weber County UT+4.8%100,037
15El Paso County CO+4.3%253,988
16Utah County UT+4.2%265,684
17Salt Lake County UT+3.8%693,564
18Washoe County NV+3.5%213,861
19Davis County UT+3.5%112,916
20Mesa County CO+3.4%56,117
21Yellowstone County MT+2.6%78,381
22Jefferson County CO+0.9%210,961
23Larimer County CO+0.8%136,039
24Arapahoe County CO+0.2%299,680
25Denver County CO−0.1%486,058
26Cache County UT−1.4%52,045
27Boulder County CO−2.4%160,157
28Pueblo County CO−3.5%49,681

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 mountain west?
Washington County leads the Mountain West for job growth: private-sector jobs are +12.4% since 2022, against +4.1% across all large counties.
How many counties are ranked?
28 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 28 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 Mountain West,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-mountain-west

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

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

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