Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Dakota

Written by:
November 15, 2022
Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Dakota

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Dakota using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#53. Divide County

- Current unemployment rate: 0.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.4%
- Total labor force: 1,426 (12 unemployed)
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Randall Runtsch // Shutterstock

#52. Billings County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.0%
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 513 (5 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#51. Dunn County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 3,150 (34 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Bowman County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 1,578 (19 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Griggs County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 997 (12 unemployed)

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#48. LaMoure County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 2,090 (26 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#47. McIntosh County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 1,065 (13 unemployed)
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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Sargent County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 2,373 (28 unemployed)
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Steele County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.2%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 924 (11 unemployed)
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Common

#44. Dickey County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 2,212 (28 unemployed)

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Matt // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Foster County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 1,494 (20 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Hettinger County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 1,423 (18 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Mountrail County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 6,230 (81 unemployed)
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Guy William // Shutterstock

#40. Cass County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 108,696 (1,469 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Grant County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 1,179 (16 unemployed)

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Burke County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 1,037 (16 unemployed)
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Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

#37. Burleigh County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 51,891 (773 unemployed)
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#36. Grand Forks County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 36,983 (545 unemployed)
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Jerry Huddleston // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Logan County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 860 (13 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Ransom County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 2,682 (39 unemployed)

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Richland County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 8,751 (127 unemployed)
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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Stutsman County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 10,348 (155 unemployed)
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chief_huddleston // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Barnes County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 5,269 (82 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Towner County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 1,125 (18 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Traill County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 4,435 (69 unemployed)

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Adams County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 930 (16 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Cavalier County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,907 (32 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Ramsey County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 5,750 (97 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Renville County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 1,209 (20 unemployed)
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Cavan-Images // Shutterstock

#24. Stark County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 17,813 (298 unemployed)

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Bob Pool // Shutterstock

#23. Morton County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 17,039 (311 unemployed)
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David Becker // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Oliver County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
--- 1 month change: -1.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 879 (16 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Sheridan County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 659 (12 unemployed)
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Yosoyana // Shutterstock

#20. Ward County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 31,771 (557 unemployed)
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Xerxes2004 // Wikimedia Commons

#19. McKenzie County

- Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 8,984 (167 unemployed)

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Bjr97543 // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Slope County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 351 (7 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Eddy County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,213 (26 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Golden Valley County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
--- 1 month change: +0.7%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 850 (18 unemployed)
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{{{1}}} // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Wells County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 1,910 (40 unemployed)
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Common

#14. Bottineau County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 3,038 (67 unemployed)

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Nelson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 1,457 (32 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Pierce County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 1,662 (36 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Sioux County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
--- 1 month change: -1.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 1,229 (27 unemployed)
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Publichall // Wikimedia Commons

#10. McHenry County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 3,179 (73 unemployed)
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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#9. McLean County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.3%
- Total labor force: 4,739 (109 unemployed)

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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Walsh County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
--- 1 month change: -1.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 5,203 (121 unemployed)
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JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Williams County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.5%
- Total labor force: 21,350 (506 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Benson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 2,349 (59 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Mercer County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 3,699 (94 unemployed)
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DakotaDocMartin // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Pembina County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 3,257 (88 unemployed)

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northlight // Shutterstock

#3. Kidder County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 1,322 (38 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Emmons County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.3%
- Total labor force: 1,460 (47 unemployed)
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Andrew Filer // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Rolette County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.5%
--- 1 month change: -6.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 4,706 (261 unemployed)

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