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Fastest-growing job markets in the Southeast

Limestone County leads the Southeast for job growth: private-sector jobs are +22.8% since 2022, against +4.0% 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 Berkeley County, SC: +18.1%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: +4.0% across all large counties.

  1. 1Limestone County AL+22.8%
  2. 2Johnston County NC+21.1%
  3. 3Berkeley County SC+18.1%
  4. 4Brunswick County NC+16.7%
  5. 5Moore County NC+16.2%
  6. 6Loudoun County VA+13.9%
  7. 7Columbia County GA+13.6%
  8. 8Union County NC+13.2%
  9. 9Lee County FL+12.3%
  10. 10St. Johns County FL+11.9%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Limestone County (+22.8%) is well clear of St. Johns County at #10 (+11.9%).
  • 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.
  • Lee County is the largest market in the top ten, with 271,920 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

    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.

  4. 4

    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.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    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.

  7. 7

    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.

  8. 8

    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.

  9. 9

    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.

  10. 10

    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.

  11. 11

    Bartow County GA

    +11.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    42,033
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,427
    Population since 2020
    +10.5%

    Based on 42,033 jobs.

  12. 12

    Harnett County NC

    +11.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    24,200
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,482
    Population since 2020
    +12.3%

    Based on 24,200 jobs.

  13. 13

    Pasco County FL

    +11.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    132,878
    Jobs added since 2022
    +13,363
    Population since 2020
    +19.1%

    Based on 132,878 jobs.

  14. 14

    Cabarrus County NC

    +11.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    75,226
    Jobs added since 2022
    +7,451
    Population since 2020
    +9.9%

    Based on 75,226 jobs.

  15. 15

    Dorchester County SC

    +10.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    34,611
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,359
    Population since 2020
    +10.1%

    Based on 34,611 jobs.

  16. 16

    Charlotte County FL

    +10.5%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    50,317
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,771
    Population since 2020
    +15.5%

    Based on 50,317 jobs.

  17. 17

    Osceola County FL

    +10.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    103,518
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,723
    Population since 2020
    +23.2%

    Based on 103,518 jobs.

  18. 18

    Blount County TN

    +10.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    49,520
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,526
    Population since 2020
    +6.0%

    Based on 49,520 jobs.

  19. 19

    Sumter County FL

    +9.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    35,121
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,156
    Population since 2020
    +21.1%

    Based on 35,121 jobs.

  20. 20

    Stafford County VA

    +9.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    38,021
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,346
    Population since 2020
    +8.3%

    Based on 38,021 jobs.

  21. 21

    Baldwin County AL

    +9.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    76,195
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,678
    Population since 2020
    +14.8%

    Based on 76,195 jobs.

  22. 22

    Manatee County FL

    +9.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    132,619
    Jobs added since 2022
    +11,584
    Population since 2020
    +16.6%

    Based on 132,619 jobs.

  23. 23

    Forsyth County GA

    +9.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    80,184
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,718
    Population since 2020
    +11.8%

    Based on 80,184 jobs.

  24. 24

    Pickens County SC

    +9.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    29,358
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,456
    Population since 2020
    +5.7%

    Based on 29,358 jobs.

  25. 25

    Richmond city VA

    +9.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    126,164
    Jobs added since 2022
    +10,396
    Population since 2020
    +4.6%

    Based on 126,164 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
3Berkeley County SC+18.1%60,097
4Brunswick County NC+16.7%36,894
5Moore County NC+16.2%38,014
6Loudoun County VA+13.9%172,509
7Columbia County GA+13.6%36,156
8Union County NC+13.2%66,804
9Lee County FL+12.3%271,920
10St. Johns County FL+11.9%89,016
11Bartow County GA+11.8%42,033
12Harnett County NC+11.4%24,200
13Pasco County FL+11.2%132,878
14Cabarrus County NC+11.0%75,226
15Dorchester County SC+10.7%34,611
16Charlotte County FL+10.5%50,317
17Osceola County FL+10.4%103,518
18Blount County TN+10.1%49,520
19Sumter County FL+9.9%35,121
20Stafford County VA+9.6%38,021
21Baldwin County AL+9.6%76,195
22Manatee County FL+9.6%132,619
23Forsyth County GA+9.1%80,184
24Pickens County SC+9.1%29,358
25Richmond city VA+9.0%126,164
26Aiken County SC+9.0%59,321
27Hardin County KY+8.9%38,718
28Lake County FL+8.6%105,896
29Wilson County TN+8.5%59,161
30Carroll County GA+8.4%39,158
31Lee County AL+8.4%50,806
32Paulding County GA+8.1%24,525
33Hall County GA+8.1%91,930
34Hamilton County TN+8.1%196,986
35Collier County FL+8.1%158,646
36Prince William County VA+8.1%114,045
37Clayton County GA+8.0%115,294
38Clay County FL+7.8%49,744
39Madison County AL+7.8%185,383
40Santa Rosa County FL+7.8%37,611
41Miami-Dade County FL+7.8%1,138,710
42Cherokee County GA+7.7%64,008
43Montgomery County TN+7.7%52,589
44St. Lucie County FL+7.7%78,023
45Henderson County NC+7.7%37,995
46Warren County KY+7.6%62,581
47Morgan County AL+7.5%46,803
48Sarasota County FL+7.4%178,780
49Flagler County FL+7.4%24,343
50Wake County NC+7.3%576,362
51Coweta County GA+7.3%43,476
52Maury County TN+7.2%34,224
53Martin County FL+7.1%72,055
54Bay County FL+7.0%69,934
55Marion County FL+6.9%105,692
56Lexington County SC+6.6%113,774
57Lancaster County SC+6.6%24,085
58New Hanover County NC+6.3%117,274
59Gaston County NC+6.3%70,537
60Orange County FL+6.3%870,276
61Leon County FL+6.1%115,582
62Hillsborough County FL+6.1%715,520
63Charleston County SC+6.0%232,587
64Clarke County GA+5.9%52,339
65Daviess County KY+5.7%42,494
66Rankin County MS+5.7%58,785
67Greenville County SC+5.7%269,409
68Rutherford County TN+5.6%128,244
69Sumner County TN+5.6%54,222
70Palm Beach County FL+5.4%608,243
71Brevard County FL+5.3%214,525
72Alamance County NC+5.2%59,791
73Kenton County KY+5.1%66,272
74Chesterfield County VA+5.0%124,771
75Walton County GA+4.9%22,364
76Horry County SC+4.8%125,415
77Arlington County VA+4.6%142,571
78Spartanburg County SC+4.6%131,873
79Fayette County KY+4.5%162,167
80Knox County TN+4.4%229,102
81Polk County FL+4.4%235,344
82Madison County MS+4.4%54,631
83Randolph County NC+4.4%39,576
84Tuscaloosa County AL+4.4%75,037
85Indian River County FL+4.3%52,520
86Anderson County SC+4.3%60,194
87Volusia County FL+4.2%167,739
88Citrus County FL+4.2%30,589
89Hernando County FL+4.2%44,297
90Douglas County GA+4.1%44,204
91Albemarle County VA+4.1%40,712
92Mecklenburg County NC+4.0%710,336
93DeSoto County MS+4.0%65,611
94Chesapeake city VA+4.0%91,292
95Alachua County FL+3.9%105,168
96Gwinnett County GA+3.8%348,368
97Norfolk city VA+3.8%104,299
98Orange County NC+3.8%41,282
99Spotsylvania County VA+3.8%31,609
100Harrison County MS+3.8%69,279

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 southeast?
Limestone County leads the Southeast for job growth: private-sector jobs are +22.8% since 2022, against +4.0% 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 Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-southeast

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

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

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