Counties with the highest unemployment in North Dakota

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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota.

#25. Cass County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 110,939 people (1,997 unemployed)

#24. Golden Valley County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 904 people (17 unemployed)

#23. Adams County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 998 people (19 unemployed)

#22. Bottineau County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,069 people (59 unemployed)

#21. McHenry County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,151 people (60 unemployed)

#20. Ramsey County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,653 people (105 unemployed)

#19. Slope County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 395 people (8 unemployed)

#18. Sheridan County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 663 people (13 unemployed)

#17. Griggs County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,032 people (21 unemployed)

#16. Kidder County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,377 people (27 unemployed)

#15. Cavalier County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,889 people (38 unemployed)

#14. Benson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 2,365 people (48 unemployed)

#13. Morton County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,949 people (333 unemployed)

#12. Ward County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 32,124 people (656 unemployed)

#11. McIntosh County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,109 people (23 unemployed)

#10. Barnes County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,146 people (106 unemployed)

#9. Pierce County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,730 people (38 unemployed)

#8. Walsh County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,282 people (114 unemployed)

#7. Oliver County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 898 people (21 unemployed)

#6. Pembina County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,299 people (77 unemployed)

#5. Mercer County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,832 people (89 unemployed)

#4. Sargent County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,246 people (54 unemployed)

#3. Sioux County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,237 people (31 unemployed)

#2. Emmons County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,501 people (44 unemployed)

#1. Rolette County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,648 people (162 unemployed)

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