Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in California

Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Imperial County had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 58 counties in 2021, at 13.9%. Mono County had the lowest, at 2.5%. The median was 6.9% and the figure for California was 6.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest13.9Imperial County
Lowest2.5Mono County
Median6.958 counties
California6.5History

Map of counties, 2021

Alameda County: 5.1 %Alpine County: 9.2 %Amador County: 6.8 %Butte County: 7.2 %Calaveras County: 6.8 %Colusa County: 5.5 %Contra Costa County: 5.8 %Del Norte County: 7.5 %El Dorado County: 4.7 %Fresno County: 8.8 %Glenn County: 7.1 %Humboldt County: 9.4 %Imperial County: 13.9 %Inyo County: 4.3 %Kern County: 8.9 %Kings County: 9.1 %Lake County: 10.1 %Lassen County: 6.9 %Los Angeles County: 7 %Madera County: 10.5 %Marin County: 5.2 %Mariposa County: 9.7 %Mendocino County: 8.5 %Merced County: 11.1 %Modoc County: 9.9 %Mono County: 2.5 %Monterey County: 5.5 %Napa County: 4.9 %Nevada County: 4.2 %Orange County: 5.4 %Placer County: 4.3 %Plumas County: 8.2 %Riverside County: 7.2 %Sacramento County: 6.6 %San Benito County: 7.1 %San Bernardino County: 7.5 %San Diego County: 6.6 %San Francisco County: 5.3 %San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Luis Obispo County: 5.2 %San Mateo County: 4.6 %Santa Barbara County: 6.1 %Santa Clara County: 4.5 %Santa Cruz County: 6.4 %Shasta County: 6.5 %Sierra County: 9 %Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Solano County: 6 %Sonoma County: 5.1 %Stanislaus County: 8.4 %Sutter County: 7.6 %Tehama County: 8.1 %Trinity County: 5.8 %Tulare County: 10.2 %Tuolumne County: 8.1 %Ventura County: 5.6 %Yolo County: 5.6 %Yuba County: 6.5 %
  • Under 5.1
  • 5.1 to 5.8
  • 5.8 to 6.9
  • 6.9 to 7.6
  • 7.6 to 9.1
  • 9.1 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2021

Imperial County: 13.9 %Imperial County13.9Merced County: 11.1 %Merced County11.1Madera County: 10.5 %Madera County10.5Tulare County: 10.2 %Tulare County10.2Lake County: 10.1 %Lake County10.1Modoc County: 9.9 %Modoc County9.9Mariposa County: 9.7 %Mariposa County9.7Humboldt County: 9.4 %Humboldt County9.4Alpine County: 9.2 %Alpine County9.2Kings County: 9.1 %Kings County9.1Sierra County: 9 %Sierra County9Kern County: 8.9 %Kern County8.9Fresno County: 8.8 %Fresno County8.8Mendocino County: 8.5 %Mendocino County8.5Stanislaus County: 8.4 %Stanislaus County8.4Plumas County: 8.2 %Plumas County8.2Tehama County: 8.1 %Tehama County8.1Tuolumne County: 8.1 %Tuolumne County8.1Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Siskiyou County7.9Sutter County: 7.6 %Sutter County7.6Del Norte County: 7.5 %Del Norte County7.5San Bernardino County: 7.5 %San Bernardino County7.5San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Joaquin County7.3Riverside County: 7.2 %Riverside County7.2Butte County: 7.2 %Butte County7.2San Benito County: 7.1 %San Benito County7.1Glenn County: 7.1 %Glenn County7.1Los Angeles County: 7 %Los Angeles County7Lassen County: 6.9 %Lassen County6.9Calaveras County: 6.8 %Calaveras County6.8Amador County: 6.8 %Amador County6.8Sacramento County: 6.6 %Sacramento County6.6San Diego County: 6.6 %San Diego County6.6Shasta County: 6.5 %Shasta County6.5Yuba County: 6.5 %Yuba County6.5Santa Cruz County: 6.4 %Santa Cruz County6.4Santa Barbara County: 6.1 %Santa Barbara County6.1Solano County: 6 %Solano County6Contra Costa County: 5.8 %Contra Costa County5.8Trinity County: 5.8 %Trinity County5.8Yolo County: 5.6 %Yolo County5.6Ventura County: 5.6 %Ventura County5.6Colusa County: 5.5 %Colusa County5.5Monterey County: 5.5 %Monterey County5.5Orange County: 5.4 %Orange County5.4San Francisco County: 5.3 %San Francisco County5.3Marin County: 5.2 %Marin County5.2San Luis Obispo County: 5.2 %San Luis Obispo County5.2Sonoma County: 5.1 %Sonoma County5.1Alameda County: 5.1 %Alameda County5.1Napa County: 4.9 %Napa County4.9El Dorado County: 4.7 %El Dorado County4.7San Mateo County: 4.6 %San Mateo County4.6Santa Clara County: 4.5 %Santa Clara County4.5Inyo County: 4.3 %Inyo County4.3Placer County: 4.3 %Placer County4.3Nevada County: 4.2 %Nevada County4.2Mono County: 2.5 %Mono County2.5Imperial County: 13.9 %Imperial County13.9Merced County: 11.1 %Merced County11.1Madera County: 10.5 %Madera County10.5Tulare County: 10.2 %Tulare County10.2Lake County: 10.1 %Lake County10.1Modoc County: 9.9 %Modoc County9.9Mariposa County: 9.7 %Mariposa County9.7Humboldt County: 9.4 %Humboldt County9.4Alpine County: 9.2 %Alpine County9.2Kings County: 9.1 %Kings County9.1Sierra County: 9 %Sierra County9Kern County: 8.9 %Kern County8.9Fresno County: 8.8 %Fresno County8.8Mendocino County: 8.5 %Mendocino County8.5Stanislaus County: 8.4 %Stanislaus County8.4Plumas County: 8.2 %Plumas County8.2Tehama County: 8.1 %Tehama County8.1Tuolumne County: 8.1 %Tuolumne County8.1Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Siskiyou County7.9Sutter County: 7.6 %Sutter County7.6Del Norte County: 7.5 %Del Norte County7.5San Bernardino County: 7.5 %San Bernardino County7.5San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Joaquin County7.3Riverside County: 7.2 %Riverside County7.2Butte County: 7.2 %Butte County7.2San Benito County: 7.1 %San Benito County7.1Glenn County: 7.1 %Glenn County7.1Los Angeles County: 7 %Los Angeles County7Lassen County: 6.9 %Lassen County6.9Calaveras County: 6.8 %Calaveras County6.8Amador County: 6.8 %Amador County6.8Sacramento County: 6.6 %Sacramento County6.6San Diego County: 6.6 %San Diego County6.6Shasta County: 6.5 %Shasta County6.5Yuba County: 6.5 %Yuba County6.5Santa Cruz County: 6.4 %Santa Cruz County6.4Santa Barbara County: 6.1 %Santa Barbara County6.1Solano County: 6 %Solano County6Contra Costa County: 5.8 %Contra Costa County5.8Trinity County: 5.8 %Trinity County5.8Yolo County: 5.6 %Yolo County5.6Ventura County: 5.6 %Ventura County5.6Colusa County: 5.5 %Colusa County5.5Monterey County: 5.5 %Monterey County5.5Orange County: 5.4 %Orange County5.4San Francisco County: 5.3 %San Francisco County5.3Marin County: 5.2 %Marin County5.2San Luis Obispo County: 5.2 %San Luis Obispo County5.2Sonoma County: 5.1 %Sonoma County5.1Alameda County: 5.1 %Alameda County5.1Napa County: 4.9 %Napa County4.9El Dorado County: 4.7 %El Dorado County4.7San Mateo County: 4.6 %San Mateo County4.6Santa Clara County: 4.5 %Santa Clara County4.5Inyo County: 4.3 %Inyo County4.3Placer County: 4.3 %Placer County4.3Nevada County: 4.2 %Nevada County4.2Mono County: 2.5 %Mono County2.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Imperial County13.9
2Merced County11.1
3Madera County10.5
4Tulare County10.2
5Lake County10.1
6Modoc County9.9
7Mariposa County9.7
8Humboldt County9.4
9Alpine County9.2
10Kings County9.1
11Sierra County9
12Kern County8.9
13Fresno County8.8
14Mendocino County8.5
15Stanislaus County8.4
16Plumas County8.2
17Tehama County8.1
18Tuolumne County8.1
19Siskiyou County7.9
20Sutter County7.6
21Del Norte County7.5
22San Bernardino County7.5
23San Joaquin County7.3
24Riverside County7.2
25Butte County7.2
26San Benito County7.1
27Glenn County7.1
28Los Angeles County7
29Lassen County6.9
30Calaveras County6.8
31Amador County6.8
32Sacramento County6.6
32San Diego County6.6
34Shasta County6.5
34Yuba County6.5
36Santa Cruz County6.4
37Santa Barbara County6.1
38Solano County6
39Contra Costa County5.8
40Trinity County5.8
41Yolo County5.6
42Ventura County5.6
43Colusa County5.5
44Monterey County5.5
45Orange County5.4
46San Francisco County5.3
47Marin County5.2
47San Luis Obispo County5.2
49Sonoma County5.1
50Alameda County5.1
51Napa County4.9
52El Dorado County4.7
53San Mateo County4.6
54Santa Clara County4.5
55Inyo County4.3
56Placer County4.3
57Nevada County4.2
58Mono County2.5

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/california-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Imperial County, with 13.9% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Mono County, with 2.5% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings