Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Missouri
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Missouri
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 Missouri using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.
Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Lafayette County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 16,656 (305 unemployed)
Onegentlemanofverona // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Monroe County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 3,807 (70 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#48. Newton County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.0%
– Total labor force: 27,063 (478 unemployed)
David Wilson // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Pettis County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 20,004 (365 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#46. St. Louis County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.8%
– Total labor force: 526,187 (9,686 unemployed)
Art davis // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Vernon County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
– Total labor force: 9,087 (163 unemployed)
Allegrorondo // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Warren County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.8%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -2.1%
– Total labor force: 18,750 (329 unemployed)
Bungaloid // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Cedar County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.5%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
– Total labor force: 5,705 (109 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Dallas County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 7,156 (137 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Grundy County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -0.8%
– Total labor force: 4,095 (78 unemployed)
M. Curtis // Shutterstock
#40. Laclede County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 16,429 (305 unemployed)
Jatpainter1 // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Polk County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -0.6%
– Total labor force: 14,590 (279 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Randolph County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 10,283 (191 unemployed)
Charvex // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Sullivan County
– Current unemployment rate: 1.9%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 2,494 (47 unemployed)
Skye Marthaler, retouched by Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Bollinger County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 5,227 (103 unemployed)
Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Butler County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 18,063 (353 unemployed)
Lisa Fitzthum Photography // Shutterstock
#34. Camden County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 19,781 (392 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Carter County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 2,551 (52 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Linn County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 5,074 (103 unemployed)
Sector001 // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Morgan County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 8,566 (169 unemployed)
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Ray County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -5.8%
– Total labor force: 10,749 (214 unemployed)
TommyBrison // Shutterstock
#29. St. Clair County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 3,785 (77 unemployed)
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Stoddard County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.5%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 13,373 (264 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Wright County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.0%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
– Total labor force: 7,647 (152 unemployed)
Andrew.Belair // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Adair County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -0.9%
– Total labor force: 9,896 (203 unemployed)
Parker Botanical // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Madison County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 5,392 (111 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Pulaski County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.1%
— 1 month change: -1.5%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 14,406 (306 unemployed)
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Audrain County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.1%
— 1 year change: -0.5%
– Total labor force: 10,087 (224 unemployed)
Steveewatkins // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Dent County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.5%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 6,246 (136 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Howell County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 15,991 (357 unemployed)
Jon Kraft // Shutterstock
#20. Jackson County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -2.5%
– Total labor force: 357,325 (8,023 unemployed)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#19. New Madrid County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.8%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 8,315 (182 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Reynolds County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.2%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 2,900 (65 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Texas County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 9,090 (197 unemployed)
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Washington County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.2%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.5%
– Total labor force: 10,110 (221 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Oregon County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 3,732 (84 unemployed)
Dean Sebourn // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Ripley County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.3%
— 1 month change: -2.1%
— 1 year change: -1.9%
– Total labor force: 5,069 (116 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Clark County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -1.0%
– Total labor force: 3,056 (74 unemployed)
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Mississippi County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -1.1%
– Total labor force: 5,182 (125 unemployed)
christopher friese // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Shannon County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 3,357 (79 unemployed)
Kclibrarian // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Stone County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.4%
— 1 month change: -1.3%
— 1 year change: -1.7%
– Total labor force: 13,718 (324 unemployed)
Paul Sableman // Wikimedia Commons
#9. St. Francois County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -1.0%
– Total labor force: 25,553 (629 unemployed)
Lilith Munck // Shutterstock
#8. Taney County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -1.4%
— 1 year change: -2.2%
– Total labor force: 26,443 (657 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Wayne County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -1.8%
— 1 year change: -1.2%
– Total labor force: 4,681 (117 unemployed)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#6. St. Louis
– Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
— 1 month change: -1.6%
— 1 year change: -2.5%
– Total labor force: 148,798 (3,778 unemployed)
Brian Hunter // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Benton County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 7,227 (185 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Ozark County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
— 1 month change: -1.7%
— 1 year change: -1.4%
– Total labor force: 3,458 (91 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Dunklin County
– Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
— 1 month change: -2.2%
— 1 year change: -1.6%
– Total labor force: 11,323 (334 unemployed)
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Iron County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
— 1 month change: -1.8%
— 1 year change: -1.3%
– Total labor force: 3,431 (104 unemployed)
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Pemiscot County
– Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
— 1 month change: -2.0%
— 1 year change: -2.4%
– Total labor force: 5,868 (180 unemployed)
