Special Report

50 Counties With the Highest Unemployment

Samuel Stebbins

Published: September 5, 2018 2:18 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 6:22 pm

The Labor Department announced in early August that the U.S. economy added 157,000 jobs in July. The announcement marked the 94th consecutive month of job growth, the longest period of uninterrupted employment growth in U.S. history.

Not every part of the United States has benefited equally from the job growth of recent years. In some counties, unemployment remains higher than the nationwide recent peak of 10.6% in the wake of the recession.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed May 2018 unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the 50 counties with the highest unemployment. Unemployment rates on this list are not seasonally adjusted and range from 7.7% to over 20% — well more than double the 3.6% national unemployment rate that month. In states without counties, county equivalents were considered. Counties, boroughs, and parishes are listed along with their administrative capital city, or seat. For unorganized boroughs in Alaska without an administrative capital, the largest city is listed.

Nearly every county on this list is in the western or southern United States. Only a handful are in the Midwest, and none are in the Northeast.

Click here to see the 50 counties with the highest unemployment.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Correction: Census data on population, poverty, and median household income are unavailable for Petersburg Borough and Kusilvak Census Area in Alaska, as well as Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota. In a previous version of this story, those figures were incorrectly listed as zeros. The error has been corrected and they are now listed as N/A.

Source: diegograndi / Getty Images

50. Merced County, California (tied)
> May unemployment: 7.7%
> Population: 265,001
> Poverty rate: 24.2%
> Median household income: $44,397
> County seat: Merced

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Source: GaryKavanagh / Getty Images

49. Kern County, California (tied)
> May unemployment: 7.7%
> Population: 871,337
> Poverty rate: 23.1%
> Median household income: $49,788
> County seat: Bakersfield

Source: wonderlane / Flickr

48. Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska (tied)
> May unemployment: 7.7%
> Population: 57,637
> Poverty rate: 11.0%
> Median household income: $64,891
> Borough seat: Soldotna

Source: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore / Wikimedia Commons

47. Mingo County, West Virginia
> May unemployment: 7.8%
> Population: 25,549
> Poverty rate: 26.0%
> Median household income: $32,441
> County seat: Williamson

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Source: afiler / Flickr

46. Big Horn County, Montana (tied)
> May unemployment: 7.9%
> Population: 13,214
> Poverty rate: 27.8%
> Median household income: $44,136
> County seat: Hardin

Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

45. West Carroll Parish, Louisiana (tied)
> May unemployment: 7.9%
> Population: 11,370
> Poverty rate: 24.0%
> Median household income: $36,670
> Parish seat: Oak Grove

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Source: Anthony George / Flickr

44. Madison Parish, Louisiana (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.0%
> Population: 11,803
> Poverty rate: 39.6%
> Median household income: $25,404
> Parish seat: Tallulah

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Source: NASKWV / Flickr

43. McDowell County, West Virginia (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.0%
> Population: 20,273
> Poverty rate: 37.6%
> Median household income: $25,206
> County seat: Welch

Source: Oralleff / Getty Images

42. Apache County, Arizona (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.0%
> Population: 72,346
> Poverty rate: 36.2%
> Median household income: $32,460
> County seat: St. Johns

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Source: nameinfame / Getty Images

41. Keweenaw County, Michigan (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.0%
> Population: 2,195
> Poverty rate: 17.0%
> Median household income: $41,472
> County seat: Eagle River

Source: engineerd / Flickr

40. Montmorency County, Michigan (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.0%
> Population: 9,317
> Poverty rate: 16.3%
> Median household income: $37,145
> County seat: Atlanta

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Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

39. Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
> May unemployment: 8.1%
> Population: 26,739
> Poverty rate: 28.8%
> Median household income: $30,279
> Parish seat: Bastrop

Source: flooded / Flickr

38. Wilkinson County, Mississippi (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.3%
> Population: 9,233
> Poverty rate: 35.6%
> Median household income: $25,846
> County seat: Woodville

Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images

37. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.3%
> Population: 98,679
> Poverty rate: 9.7%
> Median household income: $73,908
> Borough seat: Palmer

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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

36. Humphreys County, Mississippi (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.4%
> Population: 8,822
> Poverty rate: 42.5%
> Median household income: $23,442
> County seat: Belzoni

Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

35. Maverick County, Texas (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.4%
> Population: 56,830
> Poverty rate: 24.7%
> Median household income: $37,155
> County seat: Eagle Pass

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Source: baluzek / Getty Images

34. Alger County, Michigan (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.4%
> Population: 9,396
> Poverty rate: 13.1%
> Median household income: $41,270
> County seat: Munising

Source: tupungato / Getty Images

33. Tulare County, California (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.5%
> Population: 455,769
> Poverty rate: 28.3%
> Median household income: $42,789
> County seat: Visalia

Source: Arthur Chapman / Wikimedia Commons

32. Haines Borough, Alaska (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.5%
> Population: 2,528
> Poverty rate: 5.3%
> Median household income: $53,125
> Borough seat: Haines

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Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr

31. Petersburg Borough, Alaska (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.6%
> Population: N/A
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Median household income: N/A
> Borough seat: Petersburg

Source: Roger Smith / Flickr

30. Issaquena County, Mississippi (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.6%
> Population: 1,352
> Poverty rate: 40.4%
> Median household income: $24,306
> County seat: Mayersville

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Source: XTUV0010 / Wikimedia Commons

29. Kemper County, Mississippi (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.6%
> Population: 10,128
> Poverty rate: 29.9%
> Median household income: $29,925
> County seat: De Kalb

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Source: John M. Chase / Getty Images

28. Pocahontas County, West Virginia (tied)
> May unemployment: 8.6%
> Population: 8,620
> Poverty rate: 18.6%
> Median household income: $36,026
> County seat: Marlinton

Source: Thinkstock

27. Claiborne County, Mississippi
> May unemployment: 8.7%
> Population: 9,209
> Poverty rate: 41.2%
> Median household income: $25,000
> County seat: Port Gibson

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Source: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) / Wikimedia Commons

26. Calhoun County, West Virginia
> May unemployment: 8.8%
> Population: 7,482
> Poverty rate: 15.9%
> Median household income: $39,384
> County seat: Grantsville

Source: diversey / Flickr

25. Wilcox County, Alabama
> May unemployment: 8.9%
> Population: 11,119
> Poverty rate: 34.9%
> Median household income: $24,442
> County seat: Camden

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Source: mlhradio / Flickr

24. Zavala County, Texas
> May unemployment: 9.0%
> Population: 12,107
> Poverty rate: 35.8%
> Median household income: $26,639
> County seat: Crystal City

Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr

23. Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota (tied)
> May unemployment: 9.2%
> Population: N/A
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Median household income: N/A
> County seat: Hot Springs

Source: umnak / Flickr

22. Dillingham Census Area, Alaska (tied)
> May unemployment: 9.2%
> Population: 4,980
> Poverty rate: 16.5%
> Median household income: $56,055
> Largest city: Dillingham

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Source: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons

21. East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
> May unemployment: 9.3%
> Population: 7,419
> Poverty rate: 48.7%
> Median household income: $22,093
> Parish seat: Lake Providence

Source: jimfeng / Getty Images

20. Ontonagon County, Michigan
> May unemployment: 9.4%
> Population: 6,165
> Poverty rate: 15.2%
> Median household income: $35,038
> County seat: Ontonagon

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Source: formulanone / Flickr

19. Starr County, Texas
> May unemployment: 9.6%
> Population: 63,008
> Poverty rate: 37.6%
> Median household income: $26,682
> County seat: Rio Grande City

Source: bromley / Flickr

18. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 9.7%
> Population: 6,970
> Poverty rate: 13.6%
> Median household income: $63,713
> Largest city: Delta Junction

Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

17. Holmes County, Mississippi
> May unemployment: 9.8%
> Population: 18,547
> Poverty rate: 45.0%
> Median household income: $20,800
> County seat: Lexington

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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

16. Luna County, New Mexico
> May unemployment: 10.5%
> Population: 24,627
> Poverty rate: 29.5%
> Median household income: $27,326
> County seat: Deming

Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

15. Willacy County, Texas
> May unemployment: 11.0%
> Population: 21,944
> Poverty rate: 37.2%
> Median household income: $28,817
> County seat: Raymondville

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Source: r4andred / Flickr

14. Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 11.1%
> Population: 2,107
> Poverty rate: 12.3%
> Median household income: $54,091
> Largest city: Hoonah

Source: kreulen / Getty Images

13. Colusa County, California
> May unemployment: 11.5%
> Population: 21,361
> Poverty rate: 13.5%
> Median household income: $54,946
> County seat: Colusa

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

12. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 11.6%
> Population: 6,374
> Poverty rate: 14.9%
> Median household income: $51,887
> Largest city: Craig

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Source: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA / Wikimedia Commons

11. Ferry County, Washington
> May unemployment: 11.9%
> Population: 7,639
> Poverty rate: 23.5%
> Median household income: $39,555
> County seat: Republic

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

10. Magoffin County, Kentucky
> May unemployment: 12.0%
> Population: 12,887
> Poverty rate: 29.5%
> Median household income: $29,463
> County seat: Salyersville

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Source: Thinkstock

9. Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
> May unemployment: 12.4%
> Population: 1,411
> Poverty rate: 18.8%
> Median household income: $43,864
> Borough seat: King Salmon

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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images

8. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> May unemployment: 12.9%
> Population: 7,528
> Poverty rate: 39.7%
> Median household income: $23,773
> County seat: Fayette

Source: Courtesy of Joseph via Flickr

7. Nome Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 13.5%
> Population: 9,879
> Poverty rate: 27.0%
> Median household income: $51,563
> Largest city: Nome

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Source: Travis / Flickr

6. Bethel Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 14.2%
> Population: 17,885
> Poverty rate: 26.6%
> Median household income: $53,296
> Largest city: Bethel

Source: ruggybear / Flickr

5. Imperial County, California
> May unemployment: 15.6%
> Population: 178,807
> Poverty rate: 24.1%
> Median household income: $42,560
> County seat: El Centro

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Source: gsbarclay / Getty Images

4. Yuma County, Arizona
> May unemployment: 16.0%
> Population: 203,292
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> Median household income: $41,467
> County seat: Yuma

Source: Thinkstock

3. Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
> May unemployment: 16.8%
> Population: 7,723
> Poverty rate: 24.5%
> Median household income: $61,341
> Borough seat: Kotzebue

Source: ilya_ktsn / Flickr

2. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 17.6%
> Population: 5,600
> Poverty rate: 23.5%
> Median household income: $38,451
> Largest city: Fort Yukon

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska
> May unemployment: 21.8%
> Population: N/A
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Median household income: N/A
> Largest city: Hooper Bay

Detailed Findings

While unemployment is a far larger problem in the counties on this list than it is nationwide, they often closely mirror the nationwide improvements of the last half decade. In the last five years, U.S. unemployment improved by 3.7 percentage points — from 7.3% to 3.6%. Similarly, in 43 of the counties on this list unemployment also declined in the last five years. In over half them, the jobless rate has improved faster than the national improvement.

However, in many cases, declining unemployment rates are not the result of an uptick in hiring, but rather of declining labor force participation. In the last five years, the total number of U.S. workers increased by 3.9%. In 38 of the 50 counties on this list, the size of the labor force declined, sometimes by large degrees. In Magoffin County, Kentucky the size of the labor force plunged by 26.7%.

In many counties on this list, the high unemployment rates are partially attributable to downturns in industries that serve as pillars to the local economy.

Oil prices collapsed in 2014 and bottomed out in 2016, when a barrel of oil sold for a third of what it did two years prior. America’s oil industry was not spared. Over the 28 months from December 2014 to March 2017, total U.S. employment in oil and gas extraction tanked by 28%, from over 200,000 to less than 145,000. In over a dozen counties on this list, natural resources and mining — which includes oil and gas extraction — ranks among the top three industries by total employment.

The unemployment rate is perhaps the most widely cited indicator of economic strength or weakness in the United States, and by several other measures the economies of the counties on this list appear to be struggling.

Residents who earn higher incomes can help bolster a local economy, as more disposable income often translates to greater spending. Only five counties on this list have a higher median household income than the national median of $55,322 a year.

Similarly, the vast majority of counties on this list are home to a larger share of residents living in poverty than the 15.2% U.S. poverty rate.

Methodology

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 50 counties with the highest unemployment rates using employment data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment rates are for May and were not seasonally adjusted. We included counties, parishes, boroughs, and unorganized boroughs in our analysis. Poverty rates, educational attainment rates, and median household incomes came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey.