Counties with the highest unemployment in Missouri

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Missouri using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Missouri.

#25. Hickory County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,277 people (176 unemployed)

#24. Mississippi County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,063 people (208 unemployed)

#23. Stoddard County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,343 people (501 unemployed)

#22. Camden County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,241 people (780 unemployed)

#21. St. Francois County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,208 people (1,078 unemployed)

#20. Scotland County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,425 people (103 unemployed)

#19. St. Clair County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,919 people (163 unemployed)

#18. Howell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,139 people (680 unemployed)

#17. Butler County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,518 people (735 unemployed)

#16. Ripley County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,069 people (219 unemployed)

#15. New Madrid County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,069 people (348 unemployed)

#14. Texas County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,180 people (395 unemployed)

#13. Stone County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,785 people (592 unemployed)

#12. Pulaski County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,862 people (643 unemployed)

#11. Laclede County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,146 people (691 unemployed)

#10. Schuyler County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,843 people (82 unemployed)

#9. Wayne County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,886 people (217 unemployed)

#8. Putnam County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,087 people (99 unemployed)

#7. Wright County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,918 people (370 unemployed)

#6. Benton County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,183 people (345 unemployed)

#5. Clark County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,977 people (150 unemployed)

#4. Ozark County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,440 people (171 unemployed)

#3. Dunklin County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,489 people (572 unemployed)

#2. Iron County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,396 people (173 unemployed)

#1. Pemiscot County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,802 people (307 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.