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The United States is in an unprecedented period of employment growth, gaining jobs for over 100 straight months. As the number of Americans working has increased, the unemployment rate has shrunk, down to 3.8% in June 2019, close to its lowest point in decades.
But job growth and unemployment levels are far from uniform across the country. Many counties have an unemployment rate more than double the national rate. In fact, there are several counties with double-digit unemployment rates. In a handful of counties, the unemployment rate is approaching 20%.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the counties and county equivalents with the highest unemployment rates.
Educational attainment and unemployment tend to be strongly correlated, as those with a college degree are often more attractive candidates for a given job compared to those without a degree. This can make it more difficult for workers who do not have at least a bachelor’s degree to find steady work. In all 50 of the counties with the highest unemployment rates, the bachelor’s degree attainment rate for adults is below the U.S. rate of 30.9%. Over half of the 50 counties with the highest unemployment rates are located in the five states with the lowest adult bachelor’s attainment rates in the country. These are America’s most and least educated states.
Unemployment can be a major financial strain, not just on those looking for a job but on the community as well. Localities, states, and the federal government often provide financial aid to the unemployed. Children of unemployed parents can face serious, long-term negative psychological effects. Anti-poverty subsidies and tax credits can help families facing unemployment and lift children out of poverty. These are the states lifting the most children out of poverty.
Click here to see the 50 counties with the highest unemployment
Click here to read our methodology
50. Clay County, Georgia
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.1%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 8.9%
> Poverty rate: 41.4%
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49. Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.7%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 15.0%
> Poverty rate: 32.5%
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48. Leslie County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 8.9%
> Poverty rate: 34.5%
47. Noxubee County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.3%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 12.9%
> Poverty rate: 34.9%
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46. Clay County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 19.3%
> Poverty rate: 26.6%
45. Zavala County, Texas
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 7.6%
> Poverty rate: 36.2%
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44. Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 13.9%
> Poverty rate: 27.6%
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43. Keweenaw County, Michigan
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 25.1%
> Poverty rate: 14.5%
42. Bolivar County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 22.9%
> Poverty rate: 37.4%
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41. Walthall County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.7%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.3%
> Poverty rate: 26.3%
40. Santa Cruz County, Arizona
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 22.1%
> Poverty rate: 21.8%
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39. McKinley County, New Mexico
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.8%
> Poverty rate: 37.5%
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38. Sunflower County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.4%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.5%
> Poverty rate: 32.5%
37. Washington County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.5%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 19.0%
> Poverty rate: 33.7%
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36. Coahoma County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 16.9%
> Poverty rate: 36.2%
35. Menominee County, Wisconsin
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.5%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 15.9%
> Poverty rate: 35.8%
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34. Elliott County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.8%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.3%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 7.5%
> Poverty rate: 34.4%
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33. Wheeler County, Georgia
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.8%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.1%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 8.1%
> Poverty rate: 29.3%
32. Harlan County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 8.8%
> June 2015 unemployment: 13.4%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 11.4%
> Poverty rate: 35.6%
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31. Kemper County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.0%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 13.1%
> Poverty rate: 31.8%
30. West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.0%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 12.0%
> Poverty rate: 22.0%
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29. Carter County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.1%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.0%
> Poverty rate: 21.5%
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28. Tulare County, California
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.1%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 13.8%
> Poverty rate: 27.1%
27. Willacy County, Texas
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.1%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.5%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 9.0%
> Poverty rate: 35.6%
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26. Madison Parish, Louisiana
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.9%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 13.4%
> Poverty rate: 36.4%
25. Lewis County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 8.9%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 12.1%
> Poverty rate: 26.1%
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24. Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 16.0%
> Poverty rate: 16.5%
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23. McDowell County, West Virginia
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 13.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 4.9%
> Poverty rate: 34.9%
22. Quitman County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.2%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 11.8%
> Poverty rate: 37.5%
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21. Calhoun County, West Virginia
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.9%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.6%
> Poverty rate: 17.1%
20. Humphreys County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.1%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 13.6%
> Poverty rate: 40.5%
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19. Starr County, Texas
> June 2019 unemployment: 9.8%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.1%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 9.7%
> Poverty rate: 35.0%
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18. Dewey County, South Dakota
> June 2019 unemployment: 10.0%
> June 2015 unemployment: 15.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.6%
> Poverty rate: 31.4%
17. Luna County, New Mexico
> June 2019 unemployment: 10.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 15.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.1%
> Poverty rate: 31.8%
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16. Tensas Parish, Louisiana
> June 2019 unemployment: 10.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 11.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 9.7%
> Poverty rate: 38.0%
15. Ferry County, Washington
> June 2019 unemployment: 10.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 9.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 17.5%
> Poverty rate: 21.2%
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14. Colusa County, California
> June 2019 unemployment: 10.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.9%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 15.7%
> Poverty rate: 14.0%
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13. Apache County, Arizona
> June 2019 unemployment: 11.1%
> June 2015 unemployment: 13.7%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 11.5%
> Poverty rate: 35.9%
12. Wilkinson County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 11.3%
> June 2015 unemployment: 12.7%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.9%
> Poverty rate: 38.7%
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11. Holmes County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 11.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 13.5%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.7%
> Poverty rate: 46.5%
10. East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
> June 2019 unemployment: 11.5%
> June 2015 unemployment: 15.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 9.8%
> Poverty rate: 48.2%
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9. Issaquena County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 11.9%
> June 2015 unemployment: 17.6%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 6.1%
> Poverty rate: 40.3%
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8. Telfair County, Georgia
> June 2019 unemployment: 12.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 10.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 8.1%
> Poverty rate: 27.7%
7. Rolette County, North Dakota
> June 2019 unemployment: 12.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 20.7%
> Poverty rate: 32.4%
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6. Claiborne County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 12.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 14.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 18.8%
> Poverty rate: 45.9%
5. Magoffin County, Kentucky
> June 2019 unemployment: 12.4%
> June 2015 unemployment: 16.0%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.1%
> Poverty rate: 28.6%
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4. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> June 2019 unemployment: 17.2%
> June 2015 unemployment: 17.7%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 12.7%
> Poverty rate: 47.0%
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3. Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
> June 2019 unemployment: 17.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 16.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 10.8%
> Poverty rate: 25.3%
2. Imperial County, California
> June 2019 unemployment: 18.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 24.8%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.3%
> Poverty rate: 23.8%
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1. Yuma County, Arizona
> June 2019 unemployment: 19.6%
> June 2015 unemployment: 22.3%
> Adults w/ bachelor’s degree: 14.3%
> Poverty rate: 19.7%
Methodology
To identify the counties with the highest unemployment rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on unemployment rates from June 2015 to June 2019 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in all counties and county equivalents. Unemployment rates are for June and 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 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates.
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