Counties with the highest unemployment in Missouri

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Missouri, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 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.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

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

#50. Polk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,092 people (516 unemployed)

#49. Sullivan County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,393 people (83 unemployed)

#48. Audrain County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 9,707 people (344 unemployed)

#47. Crawford County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,503 people (372 unemployed)

#46. Knox County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,649 people (60 unemployed)

#45. Monroe County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,716 people (133 unemployed)

#44. Madison County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,258 people (187 unemployed)

#43. Randolph County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,852 people (357 unemployed)

#42. Johnson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,225 people (845 unemployed)

#41. Jackson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 370,657 people (13,485 unemployed)

#40. Schuyler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,798 people (67 unemployed)

#39. Putnam County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,982 people (73 unemployed)

#38. Douglas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,341 people (198 unemployed)

#37. Vernon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,788 people (326 unemployed)

#36. Clark County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,879 people (110 unemployed)

#35. Oregon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 3,988 people (151 unemployed)

#34. Cedar County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,867 people (224 unemployed)

#33. Dent County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,030 people (232 unemployed)

#32. Washington County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,100 people (394 unemployed)

#31. Taney County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,463 people (1,035 unemployed)

#30. St. Clair County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,868 people (156 unemployed)

#29. Dallas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,417 people (294 unemployed)

#28. Morgan County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,266 people (331 unemployed)

#27. Barry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,931 people (560 unemployed)

#26. St. Louis city

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 154,661 people (6,116 unemployed)

#25. Reynolds County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,624 people (107 unemployed)

#24. Hickory County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,144 people (169 unemployed)

#23. Mississippi County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,965 people (204 unemployed)

#22. Linn County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,986 people (206 unemployed)

#21. Stone County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,737 people (560 unemployed)

#20. Pulaski County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,717 people (600 unemployed)

#19. Howell County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,068 people (662 unemployed)

#18. Butler County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,518 people (720 unemployed)

#17. St. Francois County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,182 people (1,066 unemployed)

#16. New Madrid County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,892 people (328 unemployed)

#15. Adair County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,299 people (428 unemployed)

#14. Stoddard County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,898 people (505 unemployed)

#13. Ripley County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,006 people (216 unemployed)

#12. Texas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,069 people (389 unemployed)

#11. Camden County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,764 people (811 unemployed)

#10. Wayne County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,840 people (211 unemployed)

#9. Wright County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,747 people (341 unemployed)

#8. Carter County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,332 people (107 unemployed)

#7. Shannon County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,156 people (144 unemployed)

#6. Laclede County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,975 people (732 unemployed)

#5. Benton County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,101 people (331 unemployed)

#4. Ozark County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,372 people (167 unemployed)

#3. Iron County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,364 people (174 unemployed)

#2. Pemiscot County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,704 people (299 unemployed)

#1. Dunklin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,279 people (591 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.