Special Report

51 Counties With The Highest Unemployment

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

The U.S. economy appears to be recovering from the pandemic-induced recession faster than many experts anticipated. According to the most recent jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. added 943,000 jobs in July, considerably more than the 845,000 expected by the economists surveyed by Dow Jones, and the largest single month increase in nearly a year. The report also revised job gains in June from 850,000 up to 938,000.

Strong national job growth in recent months has pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.4%, the lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic. Still, job growth has not benefited all parts of the country equally. In areas where the economy has been struggling long before the pandemic, as well as those where jobs have been slow to come back, local unemployment rates are more than double the current national rate. 

Using monthly unemployment from the BLS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 51 counties and county equivalents, such as independent cities, with the highest unemployment. Counties are ranked by the June 2021 unemployment. 

In addition to high unemployment, the counties and county equivalents on this list typically have other indicators reflecting struggling economies. For example, most of these areas have large populations affected by poverty. In all but a handful of these areas, the local poverty rate far exceeds the 13.4% national rate. Here is a look at the poorest counties in every state

The counties on this list also tend to have relatively small college-educated populations. According to the BLS, the average unemployment rate among labor force participants with a bachelor’s degree was 5.5% in 2020. Meanwhile, 9.0% of those in the labor force with no more than a high school diploma were unemployed that year. Only one county on this list has a bachelor’s degree attainment rate higher than the 32.1% national average. Here is a look at the least educated county in the United States

Click here to see the 51 counties with the highest unemployment.

To identify the 50 counties with the highest unemployment, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on unemployment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. Counties and county equivalents were ranked based on unemployment rates for June 2021. Current and historical unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Supplemental data on poverty and educational attainment came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.

51. Petersburg, Virginia
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 24.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.8%
> Population: 31,362
> Largest place in county: Petersburg

[in-text-ad]

25or6to4 / Wikimedia Commons

50. Brooks County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 41.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.7%
> Population: 7,141
> Largest place in county: Falfurrias

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD / Wikimedia Commons

49. Leflore County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 36.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.5%
> Population: 29,222
> Largest place in county: Greenwood

Roger Smith / Flickr

48. Issaquena County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 36.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 3.2%
> Population: 1,361
> Largest place in county: Mayersville

[in-text-ad-2]

tupungato / Getty Images

47. Tulare County, California
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 23.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.6%
> Population: 461,898
> Largest place in county: Visalia

46. Newton County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.1% — tied
> Poverty rate: 24.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.7%
> Population: 13,914
> Largest place in county: Newton

[in-text-ad]

45. Jefferson County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.1% — tied
> Poverty rate: 17.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.7%
> Population: 254,340
> Largest place in county: Beaumont

44. Atlantic County, New Jersey
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.1% — tied
> Poverty rate: 13.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.1%
> Population: 266,105
> Largest place in county: Atlantic City

nataliemaynor / Flickr

43. Jasper County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.2% — tied
> Poverty rate: 18.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.9%
> Population: 35,506
> Largest place in county: Jasper

[in-text-ad-2]

ademyan / Getty Images

42. Kauai County, Hawaii
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.2% — tied
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.2%
> Population: 71,769
> Largest place in county: Kapaa

James_Gabbert / iStock via Getty Images

41. Lea County, New Mexico
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.3%
> Poverty rate: 15.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.6%
> Population: 70,277
> Largest place in county: Hobbs

[in-text-ad]

Aualliso, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

40. Crane County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.4% — tied
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.7%
> Population: 4,802
> Largest place in county: Crane

39. Coahoma County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.4% — tied
> Poverty rate: 34.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.5%
> Population: 23,255
> Largest place in county: Clarksdale

Tiago_Fernandez / iStock via Getty Images

38. Adams County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.5% — tied
> Poverty rate: 31.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.4%
> Population: 31,266
> Largest place in county: Natchez

[in-text-ad-2]

37. St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.5% — tied
> Poverty rate: 17.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.9%
> Population: 43,242
> Largest place in county: Laplace

36. Duval County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.6% — tied
> Poverty rate: 22.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.0%
> Population: 11,268
> Largest place in county: San Diego

[in-text-ad]

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

35. Clay County, Georgia
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.6% — tied
> Poverty rate: 39.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.5%
> Population: 2,951
> Largest place in county: Fort Gaines

CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

34. Colusa County, California
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.8% — tied
> Poverty rate: 13.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.0%
> Population: 21,454
> Largest place in county: Colusa

Courtesy of Joseph via Flickr

33. Nome Census Area, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.8% — tied
> Poverty rate: 21.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.1%
> Population: 9,988
> Largest place in county: Nome

[in-text-ad-2]

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

32. Sunflower County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 11.9%
> Poverty rate: 31.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.4%
> Population: 26,168
> Largest place in county: Indianola

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

31. Morris County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 17.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.3%
> Population: 12,373
> Largest place in county: Daingerfield

[in-text-ad]

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

30. Sharkey County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 27.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.5%
> Population: 4,404
> Largest place in county: Rolling Fork

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

29. Orleans Parish, Louisiana
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 23.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 37.6%
> Population: 390,845
> Largest place in county: New Orleans

carmengabriela / iStock via Getty Images

28. Skagway Municipality, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.2%
> Poverty rate: 6.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.6%
> Population: 1,107
> Largest place in county: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

27. East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.3% — tied
> Poverty rate: 44.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 8.9%
> Population: 7,096
> Largest place in county: Lake Providence

Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons

26. Santa Cruz County, Arizona
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.3% — tied
> Poverty rate: 23.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.4%
> Population: 46,480
> Largest place in county: Nogales

[in-text-ad]

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

25. Jim Wells County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.4% — tied
> Poverty rate: 23.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.2%
> Population: 40,972
> Largest place in county: Alice

Andrew Filer / Flickr

24. Rolette County, North Dakota
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.4% — tied
> Poverty rate: 27.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.6%
> Population: 14,511
> Largest place in county: Belcourt

ilya_ktsn / Flickr

23. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.4% — tied
> Poverty rate: 25.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.6%
> Population: 5,377
> Largest place in county: Fort Yukon

[in-text-ad-2]

22. Presidio County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.7% — tied
> Poverty rate: 39.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.2%
> Population: 6,975
> Largest place in county: Presidio

Z28scrambler, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

21. St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.7% — tied
> Poverty rate: 18.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.7%
> Population: 10,297
> Largest place in county: Greensburg

[in-text-ad]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

20. Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 12.9%
> Poverty rate: 26.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.2%
> Population: 7,715
> Largest place in county: Kotzebue

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

19. Perry County, Tennessee
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 26.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.5%
> Population: 7,962
> Largest place in county: Lobelville

Travis / Flickr

18. Bethel Census Area, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.0% — tied
> Poverty rate: 28.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.9%
> Population: 18,134
> Largest place in county: Bethel

[in-text-ad-2]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Magoffin County, Kentucky
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.1%
> Poverty rate: 28.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.5%
> Population: 12,491
> Largest place in county: Salyersville

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

16. Willacy County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.4%
> Poverty rate: 27.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 8.9%
> Population: 21,588
> Largest place in county: Raymondville

[in-text-ad]

Deberarr / iStock

15. Bronx County, New York
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.7% — tied
> Poverty rate: 28.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.1%
> Population: 1,435,068
> Largest place in county: New York

CampPhoto / Getty Images

14. Apache County, Arizona
> June 2021 unemployment: 13.7% — tied
> Poverty rate: 35.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.3%
> Population: 71,511
> Largest place in county: Chinle

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons

13. Zavala County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 14.3%
> Poverty rate: 33.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.9%
> Population: 12,039
> Largest place in county: Crystal City

[in-text-ad-2]

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

12. Maverick County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 14.6%
> Poverty rate: 26.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.7%
> Population: 58,174
> Largest place in county: Eagle Pass

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

11. Holmes County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 15.1%
> Poverty rate: 42.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.2%
> Population: 17,737
> Largest place in county: Durant

[in-text-ad]

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

10. Humphreys County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 15.3%
> Poverty rate: 36.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.8%
> Population: 8,389
> Largest place in county: Belzoni

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

9. Zapata County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 15.5%
> Poverty rate: 34.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.6%
> Population: 14,304
> Largest place in county: Medina

C5Media / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

8. Claiborne County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 15.6%
> Poverty rate: 41.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.0%
> Population: 9,089
> Largest place in county: Port Gibson

[in-text-ad-2]

RAUL RODRIGUEZ / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

7. Luna County, New Mexico
> June 2021 unemployment: 16.5%
> Poverty rate: 27.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.5%
> Population: 24,083
> Largest place in county: Deming

6. Wilkinson County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 16.6%
> Poverty rate: 34.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.7%
> Population: 8,875
> Largest place in county: Centreville

[in-text-ad]

santalechuga / iStock via Getty Images

5. Imperial County, California
> June 2021 unemployment: 17.5%
> Poverty rate: 24.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.2%
> Population: 180,701
> Largest place in county: El Centro

Carol M. Highsmith / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

4. Starr County, Texas
> June 2021 unemployment: 18.6%
> Poverty rate: 34.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.9%
> Population: 64,078
> Largest place in county: Rio Grande City

3. Yuma County, Arizona
> June 2021 unemployment: 20.4%
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.0%
> Population: 209,468
> Largest place in county: Yuma

[in-text-ad-2]

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

2. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> June 2021 unemployment: 21.9%
> Poverty rate: 37.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.9%
> Population: 7,225
> Largest place in county: Fayette

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska
> June 2021 unemployment: 24.0%
> Poverty rate: 39.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 3.9%
> Population: 8,250
> Largest place in county: N/A

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.