Counties with the highest unemployment in North Dakota

Written by:
Stacker
April 8, 2024
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Counties with the highest unemployment in North Dakota

While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in North Dakota using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in February 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.

Experts are mixed in their views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession.

The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

But as of March 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.8%—down slightly from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.

Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in North Dakota.

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#53. Divide County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,460 people (21 unemployed)

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Scott Cummings // Shutterstock

#52. Golden Valley County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 852 people (14 unemployed)

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Roadwardbound // Shutterstock

#51. Grant County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,216 people (21 unemployed)

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Traveller70 // Shutterstock

#50. Dunn County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,059 people (51 unemployed)

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Kit Leong // Shutterstock

#49. Mountrail County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,564 people (112 unemployed)

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Tanyarmorgan2436 // Shutterstock

#48. McKenzie County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,854 people (165 unemployed)

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StompingGirl // Shutterstock

#47. Sargent County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,216 people (42 unemployed)

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Charissa Enget // Shutterstock

#46. Burke County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,055 people (21 unemployed)

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#45. Bowman County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,506 people (30 unemployed)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#44. Dickey County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,193 people (44 unemployed)

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#43. Williams County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 22,537 people (480 unemployed)

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northlight // Shutterstock

#42. Adams County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 925 people (20 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#41. Traill County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 4,558 people (99 unemployed)

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Cavan-Images // Shutterstock

#40. Stark County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,793 people (412 unemployed)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#39. Grand Forks County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,371 people (838 unemployed)

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Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

#38. Ransom County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,593 people (59 unemployed)

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#37. Richland County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,830 people (204 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#36. Griggs County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,009 people (24 unemployed)

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#35. Sioux County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,196 people (29 unemployed)

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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#34. Burleigh County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 51,404 people (1,232 unemployed)

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#33. Cass County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 111,525 people (2,720 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#32. Towner County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,100 people (27 unemployed)

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northlight // Shutterstock

#31. Hettinger County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,304 people (33 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#30. Steele County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 923 people (24 unemployed)

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Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock

#29. Nelson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,400 people (37 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#28. LaMoure County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,050 people (54 unemployed)

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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#27. Stutsman County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,659 people (274 unemployed)

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Michael Coddington // Shutterstock

#26. Ramsey County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,444 people (145 unemployed)

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#25. Renville County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,229 people (35 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#24. Foster County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,484 people (42 unemployed)

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Jeffrey M. Frank // Shutterstock

#23. Slope County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 332 people (10 unemployed)

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Yosoyana // Shutterstock

#22. Ward County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 31,781 people (959 unemployed)

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Randall Runtsch // Shutterstock

#21. Billings County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 386 people (12 unemployed)

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#20. Barnes County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,211 people (161 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#19. McIntosh County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,062 people (37 unemployed)

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dedio // Shutterstock

#18. Cavalier County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,776 people (63 unemployed)

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Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#17. Morton County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 17,002 people (593 unemployed)

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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#16. Eddy County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,132 people (41 unemployed)

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#15. Pierce County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,678 people (61 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#14. Wells County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,870 people (67 unemployed)

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Smpalmero // Shutterstock

#13. McLean County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,585 people (163 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#12. Logan County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 838 people (31 unemployed)

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northlight // Shutterstock

#11. Mercer County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,531 people (133 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#10. Sheridan County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 626 people (25 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#9. Benson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,238 people (91 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#8. Oliver County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 871 people (37 unemployed)

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Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#7. Pembina County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,193 people (133 unemployed)

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#6. Walsh County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,095 people (213 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#5. Bottineau County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,905 people (125 unemployed)

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Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock

#4. McHenry County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,124 people (149 unemployed)

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northlight // Shutterstock

#3. Kidder County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,321 people (72 unemployed)

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Cammie Czuchnicki // Shutterstock

#2. Emmons County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,441 people (88 unemployed)

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SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#1. Rolette County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,719 people (316 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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