The hottest job markets in the country right now are led by Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; Salt Lake City; and Jacksonville, Florida, according to the latest annual ranking by the Wall Street Journal, which takes into account factors including job and wage growth and the unemployment rate. These are midsize cities with populations of at least 1 million to no more than 2.3 million are in warmer climates and have little or no income taxes. (Also see, cities that will add the most jobs by 2060 according to economists.)
Despite being the hottest job markets, they do not rank as the fastest growing economy in their state. In fact, the vast majority of counties that rank as the fastest growing in their state have populations well under 1 million.
To determine the fastest growing local economy in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical data on gross domestic product from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Counties and county equivalents were ranked based on the percentage change in real GDP from 2017 to 2021.
Real GDP growth of the fastest growing county in every state ranges from -2.2% in Kauai County, Hawaii, to 223.5% in Foard County, Texas. The median real GDP growth among the counties on the list was 32% from 2017 to 2021. (And this is how fast the economy grew in every state last quarter.)
Populations of these counties range from 562 residents in Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska, to 1.9 million in Santa Clara County, California, but the vast majority have populations under 1 million. The median population of these 50 fastest growing local economies is 24,310.
Kauai County, whose largest industry is finance and insurance, has been the least impacted of Hawaii’s five counties by the devastating economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic that crippled tourism and air travel. Meanwhile, Foard County, with a population of just 1,084 residents living on the sweeping plains of North Texas, is part of a regional boom in the state’s wind power construction.
Among these 50 fastest growing economies, the largest industry in nine is utilities. In eight of these counties, the largest industry is agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. Other leading industries are manufacturing and mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.
But before you decide to head off one of these low-population areas to reap the benefits of rapid economic growth, keep in mind that job opportunities may be limited to specific industries. For example, Sumter County, Florida, experienced nearly 53% growth in its GDP from 2017 to 2021, but it has higher unemployment than the state and national rates, and its economy is largely driven by construction activity surrounding The Villages, the state’s large and rapidly growing retirement community.
Here are the fastest growing local economies in the United States.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Alabama: Baldwin County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +21.8% (county); +6.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $7.8 billion (county); $210.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $34,475 (county); $42,015 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.9% (county); 3.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Bay Minette
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Alaska: Yakutat City and Borough
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +40.2% (county); -6.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $36.0 million (county); $50.9 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $64,039 (county); $69,121 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 7.1% (county); 6.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Yakutat
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Arizona: Graham County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +38.5% (county); +14.5% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.2 billion (county); $347.7 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $31,619 (county); $49,109 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.3% (county); 5.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Safford
Arkansas: Mississippi County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +26.7% (county); +8.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $2.8 billion (county); $123.3 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $68,059 (county); $41,029 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 7.1% (county); 4.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Blytheville
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California: Santa Clara County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +34.8% (county); +13.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $382.3 billion (county); $2.9 trillion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $197,893 (county); $72,860 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.8% (county); 7.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> County seat: San Jose
Colorado: Kiowa County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +101.9% (county); +13.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $109.5 million (county); $373.8 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $77,421 (county); $65,307 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.5% (county); 5.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Eads
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Connecticut: New Haven County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +5.2% (county); -0.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $47.7 billion (county); $246.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $55,178 (county); $68,386 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 6.6% (county); 6.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: New Haven
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Delaware: Kent County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +19.5% (county); +6.7% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $8.1 billion (county); $64.4 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $45,145 (county); $65,592 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 6.4% (county); 5.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
> County seat: Dover
Florida: Sumter County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +52.8% (county); +12.8% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $4.4 billion (county); $1.0 trillion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $34,363 (county); $48,247 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 5.4% (county); 4.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Construction
> County seat: Bushnell
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Georgia: Brooks County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +52.7% (county); +9.8% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $462.5 million (county); $575.3 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $28,453 (county); $54,142 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.8% (county); 3.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Quitman
Hawaii: Kauai County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: -2.2% (county); -5.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $3.4 billion (county); $74.5 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $46,124 (county); $51,288 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 8.1% (county); 6.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Finance and insurance
> County seat: Lihue
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Idaho: Shoshone County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +41.7% (county); +19.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $702.9 million (county); $80.1 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $53,557 (county); $44,211 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 6.4% (county); 3.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Wallace
Illinois: Washington County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +25.9% (county); +3.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.0 billion (county); $780.1 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $74,814 (county); $60,839 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.1% (county); 6.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> County seat: Nashville
Indiana: Posey County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +41.3% (county); +6.5% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $3.0 billion (county); $346.2 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $119,529 (county); $51,285 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.9% (county); 3.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Other services (except government and government enterprises)
> County seat: Mount Vernon
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Iowa: Louisa County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +40.6% (county); +5.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $854.3 million (county); $179.8 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $78,438 (county); $56,542 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.9% (county); 3.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Wapello
Kansas: Smith County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +35.8% (county); +4.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $166.3 million (county); $162.3 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $46,339 (county); $55,350 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 1.8% (county); 3.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Smith Center
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Kentucky: Kenton County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +28.6% (county); +6.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $8.6 billion (county); $197.8 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $51,055 (county); $44,017 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.9% (county); 4.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Independence
Louisiana: Sabine Parish
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +34.3% (county); -5.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.0 billion (county); $221.2 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $45,555 (county); $47,485 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.9% (county); 5.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Many
Maine: Lincoln County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +16.6% (county); +12.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.2 billion (county); $63.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $33,978 (county); $46,862 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.4% (county); 4.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> County seat: Wiscasset
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Maryland: Howard County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +9.1% (county); +0.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $26.5 billion (county); $368.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $80,427 (county); $59,944 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.0% (county); 5.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Ellicott City
Massachusetts: Middlesex County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +16.9% (county); +10.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $173.4 billion (county); $533.1 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $106,839 (county); $76,246 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.5% (county); 5.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Professional, scientific, and technical services
> County seat: Lowell
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Michigan: Jackson County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +16.9% (county); +5.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $6.3 billion (county); $481.8 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $39,424 (county); $47,879 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 5.7% (county); 5.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> County seat: Jackson
Minnesota: Lincoln County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +44.5% (county); +5.7% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $417.8 million (county); $346.2 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $73,876 (county); $61,054 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.7% (county); 3.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Ivanhoe
Mississippi: Issaquena County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +37.4% (county); +3.1% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $17.8 million (county); $104.4 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $16,023 (county); $35,171 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 8.9% (county); 5.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation
> County seat: Mayersville
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Missouri: Ralls County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +73.1% (county); +5.1% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $660.1 million (county); $295.7 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $63,975 (county); $48,146 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.2% (county); 4.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation
> County seat: New London
Montana: Liberty County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +174.1% (county); +6.5% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $269.4 million (county); $49.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $132,967 (county); $45,433 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.3% (county); 3.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Chester
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Nebraska: Dixon County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +95.7% (county); +7.0% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $333.0 million (county); $122.1 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $59,121 (county); $62,586 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.3% (county); 2.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Ponca
Nevada: Storey County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +62.4% (county); +9.7% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $2.2 billion (county); $159.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $548,709 (county); $52,159 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.4% (county); 6.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Virginia City
New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +16.3% (county); +12.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $22.3 billion (county); $83.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $71,334 (county); $60,478 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.4% (county); 3.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> County seat: Brentwood
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New Jersey: Mercer County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +23.1% (county); +5.5% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $36.0 billion (county); $566.9 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $93,396 (county); $61,392 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 5.5% (county); 6.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Trenton
New Mexico: Torrance County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +28.1% (county); +5.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $445.2 million (county); $93.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $29,387 (county); $44,385 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 8.2% (county); 7.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Estancia
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New York: Rensselaer County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +17.3% (county); +6.7% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $8.6 billion (county); $1.5 trillion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $53,280 (county); $75,307 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.4% (county); 7.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Troy
North Carolina: Transylvania County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +27.6% (county); +9.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.7 billion (county); $541.9 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $50,756 (county); $52,275 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.2% (county); 4.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Brevard
North Dakota: Sargent County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +46.4% (county); -0.7% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $814.0 million (county); $53.8 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $212,040 (county); $69,573 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.3% (county); 3.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Other services (except government and government enterprises)
> County seat: Forman
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Ohio: Henry County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +24.8% (county); +6.0% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.4 billion (county); $629.3 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $52,263 (county); $53,466 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 5.2% (county); 5.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Napoleon
Oklahoma: Kingfisher County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +22.6% (county); -0.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.2 billion (county); $193.2 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $75,561 (county); $48,942 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.7% (county); 4.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Kingfisher
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Oregon: Wasco County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +33.3% (county); +10.9% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.6 billion (county); $228.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $61,999 (county); $54,188 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 5.2% (county); 5.2% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> County seat: The Dalles
Pennsylvania: Cumberland County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +11.3% (county); +2.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $15.5 billion (county); $711.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $60,086 (county); $54,814 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.4% (county); 6.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> County seat: Carlisle
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +9.1% (county); +3.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $6.0 billion (county); $54.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $69,640 (county); $50,008 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.9% (county); 5.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Finance and insurance
> County seat: Newport
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South Carolina: Newberry County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +21.3% (county); +9.2% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.4 billion (county); $221.0 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $38,001 (county); $43,522 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.3% (county); 3.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
> County seat: Newberry
South Dakota: Clark County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +75.7% (county); +8.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $246.4 million (county); $49.6 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $64,996 (county); $56,202 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.2% (county); 2.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Clark
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Tennessee: Moore County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +37.5% (county); +10.5% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $557.2 million (county); $352.5 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $85,971 (county); $51,383 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.8% (county); 4.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation
> County seat: Lynchburg
Texas: Foard County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +223.5% (county); +9.4% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $103.7 million (county); $1.8 trillion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $95,404 (county); $62,886 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.4% (county); 5.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Crowell
Utah: Juab County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +47.7% (county); +20.8% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $561.8 million (county); $186.9 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $48,234 (county); $57,842 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 2.0% (county); 2.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> County seat: Nephi
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Vermont: Chittenden County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +6.4% (county); +3.6% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $11.0 billion (county); $30.5 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $65,836 (county); $47,608 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.1% (county); 3.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> County seat: Burlington
Virginia: New Kent County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +35.0% (county); +8.1% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $585.8 million (county); $505.4 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $26,012 (county); $58,882 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.0% (county); 3.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation
> County seat: New Kent
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Washington: Klickitat County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +31.3% (county); +19.3% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.5 billion (county); $575.1 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $67,463 (county); $75,502 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 6.2% (county); 5.2% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> County seat: Goldendale
West Virginia: Tyler County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +55.5% (county); -0.1% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $1.1 billion (county); $71.3 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $130,908 (county); $39,612 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 8.0% (county); 5.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> County seat: Middlebourne
Wisconsin: Rock County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +12.9% (county); +5.0% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $7.0 billion (county); $306.5 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $42,753 (county); $52,194 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 4.5% (county); 3.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> County seat: Janesville
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Wyoming: Teton County
> Change in real GDP, 2017 to 2021: +30.2% (county); -3.0% (state)
> GDP, 2021: $2.9 billion (county); $36.4 billion (state)
> GDP per capita, 2021: $122,747 (county); $63,124 (state)
> Unemployment rate, 2021: 3.3% (county); 4.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> County seat: Jackson
Methodology
To determine the fastest growing local economy in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical data on gross domestic product from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Counties and county equivalents were ranked based on the percentage change in real GDP from 2017 to 2021. GDP figures are in chained 2012 dollars. Population data used to calculate GDP per capita came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Supplemental data on average annual unemployment rate in 2021 is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. All counties in Hawaii reported negative real GDP growth from 2017 to 2021, so the fastest growing local economy in Hawaii is the county with the smallest real GDP decline over the period.
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