Counties with the highest unemployment in North Dakota

The first jobs report under the new Trump administration showed a stable job market, with the unemployment rate ticking down from 4.1% to 4% in January, the lowest since last May, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released Feb. 7.

The report marks 49 consecutive months of overall job growth, the second-longest recorded period since 1939.

Job losses that did occur were concentrated in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries, which declined by 8,000 jobs over the month. There was little change in employment in other major industries.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates North Dakota, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in December 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: Jobs report reveals cooling labor market

January's job growth of 143,000 fell short of expectations, while the downward revision of 589,000 fewer jobs in 2024 suggests the labor market was weaker last year than initially thought.

Business leaders are starting to display more caution, with 67% of executives reporting higher stress levels heading into 2025, according to a survey of 1,000 executives by Sentry, a business insurance company. Among survey respondents, 47% citing economic uncertainty as their biggest concern.

"We have what I would describe as a robust but frozen labor market," Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, told The New York Times, noting that while unemployment remains low, there's very little churn or employee turnover as "businesses are being cautious as to how they manage their work force."

Moody's Analytics projects monthly payroll gains could slow to around 100,000 by year-end.

The big story: Potential for economic headwinds grows

Behind the "Now Hiring" signs and modest unemployment rate, there's growing concern on Main Street that the economy might be more fragile than it appears.

"You've already got companies hiring as if they're in a recession—even if they're not laying people off," Oliver Allen, senior U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, told CNN. Average unemployment duration, a lagging indicator, rose from 20.8 weeks in January 2024 to 22 in January of this year.

Tightening trade regulations and federal trimming could also have an impact on the job market. Experts predict the U.S. gross domestic product could take a hit due to increased tariffs. The U.S. government is the country's largest employer and contributes 36% to the GDP.

Sudden cuts to federal spending advocated by the new administration could hit the economy hard. One example of the potential fallout is that if prices were to increase further due to higher tariffs, consumer purchasing power would decline, stymieing economic growth.

Whether the effects of slashing the workforce and the budget will be exceeded by Trump's plans to loosen business regulations and cut taxes remains to be seen.

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

49. Bowman County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,549 people (28 unemployed)

49. Mountrail County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,683 people (118 unemployed)

47. McKenzie County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,174 people (194 unemployed)

47. Slope County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: -0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 360 people (7 unemployed)

44. Traill County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,549 people (89 unemployed)

44. Stark County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,122 people (387 unemployed)

44. Renville County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,177 people (23 unemployed)

41. Burke County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,046 people (22 unemployed)

41. Logan County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 894 people (19 unemployed)

41. Williams County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,390 people (492 unemployed)

39. Grant County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,288 people (28 unemployed)

39. Foster County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,481 people (32 unemployed)

31. Hettinger County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,323 people (30 unemployed)

31. Steele County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 940 people (22 unemployed)

31. Ransom County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,619 people (59 unemployed)

31. Grand Forks County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,238 people (861 unemployed)

31. Burleigh County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 51,559 people (1,193 unemployed)

31. Cass County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 111,652 people (2,618 unemployed)

31. Golden Valley County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 875 people (20 unemployed)

31. LaMoure County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,147 people (50 unemployed)

29. Griggs County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 996 people (24 unemployed)

29. Ramsey County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,580 people (133 unemployed)

25. Barnes County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,096 people (132 unemployed)

25. McIntosh County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: -0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,085 people (28 unemployed)

25. Ward County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 32,135 people (841 unemployed)

25. Nelson County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,469 people (38 unemployed)

23. Cavalier County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,782 people (48 unemployed)

23. Wells County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,864 people (51 unemployed)

20. Stutsman County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,647 people (301 unemployed)

20. Adams County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 996 people (28 unemployed)

20. Richland County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,939 people (254 unemployed)

17. Eddy County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,167 people (34 unemployed)

17. Billings County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 454 people (13 unemployed)

17. Pierce County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,675 people (48 unemployed)

12. McLean County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,733 people (141 unemployed)

12. Morton County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,092 people (506 unemployed)

12. Sargent County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,189 people (65 unemployed)

12. Sheridan County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 635 people (19 unemployed)

12. Bottineau County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,028 people (90 unemployed)

11. Kidder County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,336 people (42 unemployed)

7. Mercer County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,705 people (118 unemployed)

7. Sioux County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,212 people (39 unemployed)

7. Towner County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,099 people (35 unemployed)

7. Pembina County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,172 people (101 unemployed)

6. McHenry County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,093 people (102 unemployed)

5. Benson County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,321 people (79 unemployed)

4. Walsh County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,173 people (188 unemployed)

1. Emmons County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,459 people (70 unemployed)

1. Oliver County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 893 people (43 unemployed)

1. Rolette County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,676 people (223 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.