Counties in Texas by unemployment rate

Starr County had the highest unemployment rate of 254 counties in January 2026, at 10.5%. Loving County had the lowest, at 0.3%. The median was 4.3% and the figure for Texas was 4.3%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Highest10.5Starr County
Lowest0.3Loving County
Median4.3254 counties
Texas4.3History

Top 40 counties, January 2026

CSVChart (SVG)

Starr CountyStarr County: 10.5 %10.5Maverick CountyMaverick County: 9.8 %9.8Zapata CountyZapata County: 8.1 %8.1Kenedy CountyKenedy County: 8 %8Dimmit CountyDimmit County: 7.7 %7.7Zavala CountyZavala County: 7.6 %7.6Cameron CountyCameron County: 7.2 %7.2Willacy CountyWillacy County: 7.2 %7.2Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County: 6.9 %6.9Newton CountyNewton County: 6.9 %6.9Sabine CountySabine County: 6.8 %6.8Sutton CountySutton County: 6.6 %6.6Jefferson CountyJefferson County: 6.5 %6.5McMullen CountyMcMullen County: 6.5 %6.5Jasper CountyJasper County: 6.4 %6.4Marion CountyMarion County: 6.4 %6.4Matagorda CountyMatagorda County: 6.2 %6.2Tyler CountyTyler County: 6.1 %6.1Liberty CountyLiberty County: 6 %6Presidio CountyPresidio County: 6 %6San Augustine CountySan Augustine County: 6 %6Morris CountyMorris County: 5.9 %5.9Frio CountyFrio County: 5.8 %5.8Eastland CountyEastland County: 5.7 %5.7Waller CountyWaller County: 5.7 %5.7Jack CountyJack County: 5.6 %5.6Refugio CountyRefugio County: 5.6 %5.6San Patricio CountySan Patricio County: 5.6 %5.6Trinity CountyTrinity County: 5.6 %5.6Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County: 5.5 %5.5Jim Wells CountyJim Wells County: 5.5 %5.5San Jacinto CountySan Jacinto County: 5.5 %5.5Val Verde CountyVal Verde County: 5.5 %5.5Cass CountyCass County: 5.4 %5.4Chambers CountyChambers County: 5.4 %5.4Live Oak CountyLive Oak County: 5.4 %5.4Shelby CountyShelby County: 5.4 %5.4Polk CountyPolk County: 5.3 %5.3Roberts CountyRoberts County: 5.3 %5.3DeWitt CountyDeWitt County: 5.2 %5.2
%. Source: BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCountiesJanuary 2026 (%)Change on January 2025
1Starr County10.5+0.1 pts
2Maverick County9.8+1 pts
3Zapata County8.1+0.1 pts
4Kenedy County8-0.2 pts
5Dimmit County7.7+1.1 pts
6Zavala County7.6+0.5 pts
7Cameron County7.2+1.7 pts
7Willacy County7.2+1.6 pts
9Hidalgo County6.9+0.6 pts
9Newton County6.9+0.7 pts
11Sabine County6.8+0.4 pts
12Sutton County6.6+0.3 pts
13Jefferson County6.5+0.5 pts
13McMullen County6.5+2.2 pts
15Jasper County6.40 pts
15Marion County6.4+0.1 pts
17Matagorda County6.2+0.6 pts
18Tyler County6.1-0.3 pts
19Liberty County6+0.6 pts
19Presidio County6-0.4 pts
19San Augustine County6+0.2 pts
22Morris County5.9+0.3 pts
23Frio County5.8-2.1 pts
24Eastland County5.7+0.5 pts
24Waller County5.7+0.6 pts
26Jack County5.6-0.1 pts
26Refugio County5.6+0.6 pts
26San Patricio County5.6+0.7 pts
26Trinity County5.6+0.4 pts
30Jeff Davis County5.5+0.2 pts
30Jim Wells County5.5+0.4 pts
30San Jacinto County5.5+0.1 pts
30Val Verde County5.5+0.4 pts
34Cass County5.4+0.2 pts
34Chambers County5.4+0.6 pts
34Live Oak County5.4+0.7 pts
34Shelby County5.4+0.7 pts
38Polk County5.3+0.3 pts
38Roberts County5.3+1 pts
40DeWitt County5.2+0.4 pts
40Freestone County5.2+0.5 pts
40Hemphill County5.2+0.2 pts
40Orange County5.2+0.4 pts
40Panola County5.20 pts
40Wood County5.2+0.5 pts
46Brazoria County5.1+0.5 pts
46Camp County5.1+0.6 pts
46Coryell County5.1+0.4 pts
46Goliad County5.1+0.7 pts
46Red River County5.1+0.6 pts
46Throckmorton County5.1+0.2 pts
52Aransas County5+0.2 pts
52Bee County5+0.1 pts
52Bell County5+0.4 pts
52Duval County5+0.1 pts
52Gregg County5+0.1 pts
52Navarro County5+0.4 pts
52Real County5+0.6 pts
52Schleicher County5+0.3 pts
60Angelina County4.9+0.5 pts
60Atascosa County4.9+0.5 pts
60Garza County4.9-1.2 pts
60Grimes County4.9+0.4 pts
60Harris County4.9+0.4 pts
60Houston County4.9+0.4 pts
60Kleberg County4.9+0.4 pts
60Motley County4.9+1.2 pts
60Somervell County4.9+0.5 pts
69Galveston County4.8+0.4 pts
69Hamilton County4.8+0.3 pts
69Hardin County4.8+0.2 pts
69Harrison County4.8-0.3 pts
69Henderson County4.8+0.2 pts
69Jim Hogg County4.8+0.2 pts
69Nacogdoches County4.8+0.5 pts
69Uvalde County4.8+0.6 pts
69Webb County4.8+0.4 pts
78Anderson County4.7+0.3 pts
78Cherokee County4.7+0.4 pts
78Limestone County4.7+0.2 pts
78McCulloch County4.7+0.4 pts
78Nueces County4.7+0.4 pts
78Wharton County4.7+0.3 pts
84El Paso County4.6+0.3 pts
84Fannin County4.6+0.8 pts
84Fort Bend County4.6+0.3 pts
84Hood County4.6+0.2 pts
84Hunt County4.6+0.4 pts
84Lamar County4.6+0.5 pts
84Pecos County4.6+0.5 pts
84Walker County4.6+0.3 pts
92Bowie County4.5+0.2 pts
92Dawson County4.5+0.3 pts
92Hale County4.5+0.4 pts
92Haskell County4.5+0.2 pts
92Hutchinson County4.50 pts
92Kaufman County4.5+0.5 pts
92Kinney County4.5+0.2 pts
92Madison County4.50 pts
92Medina County4.5+0.2 pts
92Milam County4.5+0.3 pts
92Rusk County4.5-0.3 pts
92Stephens County4.5+0.1 pts
92Upshur County4.5-0.1 pts
92Victoria County4.5+0.4 pts
106Bexar County4.4+0.4 pts
106Bosque County4.4+0.3 pts
106Delta County4.40 pts
106Falls County4.40 pts
106Jackson County4.4+0.1 pts
106Karnes County4.4+0.1 pts
106Lampasas County4.4+0.2 pts
106Llano County4.4+0.2 pts
106Montague County4.4-0.2 pts
106Montgomery County4.4+0.3 pts
106Terry County4.4+0.3 pts
106Titus County4.4+0.4 pts
106Van Zandt County4.4+0.2 pts
119Austin County4.3+0.5 pts
119Bandera County4.3+0.4 pts
119Brooks County4.3+0.1 pts
119Dallas County4.3+0.1 pts
119Donley County4.3-0.1 pts
119Gray County4.3+0.3 pts
119La Salle County4.3-1.9 pts
119Palo Pinto County4.3+0.2 pts
119Rains County4.3+0.5 pts
119Reagan County4.3-0.3 pts
119Robertson County4.3-0.2 pts
130Bailey County4.20 pts
130Collin County4.2+0.3 pts
130Grayson County4.2+0.4 pts
130Guadalupe County4.2+0.5 pts
130Hill County4.2+0.2 pts
130Kent County4.20 pts
130McLennan County4.2+0.2 pts
130Smith County4.2+0.2 pts
130Tarrant County4.2+0.2 pts
130Wichita County4.2+0.3 pts
130Wilson County4.2+0.5 pts
141Brown County4.1+0.2 pts
141Clay County4.1+0.2 pts
141Crosby County4.1-0.2 pts
141Ector County4.1+0.4 pts
141Ellis County4.1+0.3 pts
141Fayette County4.1+0.1 pts
141Floyd County4.1-0.2 pts
141Hockley County4.1+0.4 pts
141Howard County4.1+0.5 pts
141Irion County4.1+1 pts
141Kimble County4.1+0.7 pts
141Nolan County4.1+0.2 pts
141Swisher County4.1-0.3 pts
141Washington County4.10 pts
141Wilbarger County4.1+0.3 pts
141Yoakum County4.1+0.1 pts
157Burnet County4+0.3 pts
157Calhoun County4+0.6 pts
157Comal County4+0.3 pts
157Denton County4+0.2 pts
157Hall County4-0.6 pts
157Johnson County4+0.3 pts
157Lee County4+0.4 pts
157Leon County4+0.1 pts
157Reeves County4+0.1 pts
157Scurry County4+0.2 pts
157Wise County4+0.2 pts
168Blanco County3.9+0.5 pts
168Caldwell County3.9+0.2 pts
168Gonzales County3.9+0.3 pts
168Rockwall County3.9+0.3 pts
172Bastrop County3.8+0.1 pts
172Burleson County3.8+0.2 pts
172Coleman County3.8+0.2 pts
172Colorado County3.8+0.1 pts
172Deaf Smith County3.8+0.4 pts
172Franklin County3.80 pts
172Hays County3.8+0.4 pts
172Kendall County3.8+0.4 pts
172San Saba County3.8+0.3 pts
172Shackelford County3.8+0.4 pts
172Wheeler County3.8+0.3 pts
172Williamson County3.8+0.2 pts
184Brazos County3.7+0.1 pts
184Concho County3.7+0.3 pts
184Culberson County3.7+0.4 pts
184Erath County3.7-0.1 pts
184Jones County3.7+0.4 pts
184Kerr County3.7+0.2 pts
184Lubbock County3.7+0.2 pts
184Lynn County3.7+0.3 pts
184Mason County3.7+0.1 pts
184Menard County3.7+0.6 pts
184Mills County3.7+0.6 pts
184Parker County3.7+0.2 pts
184Potter County3.7+0.2 pts
184Sterling County3.7+0.6 pts
184Young County3.7+0.2 pts
199Archer County3.6-0.2 pts
199Briscoe County3.6-0.2 pts
199Cooke County3.6+0.1 pts
199Dickens County3.6-0.7 pts
199Hansford County3.6+0.2 pts
199Hopkins County3.6+0.3 pts
199Hudspeth County3.6-0.4 pts
199Lamb County3.60 pts
199Runnels County3.60 pts
199Taylor County3.6+0.1 pts
199Travis County3.6+0.1 pts
199Ward County3.6-0.1 pts
199Winkler County3.6+0.2 pts
212Andrews County3.5+0.5 pts
212Cochran County3.5-0.5 pts
212Fisher County3.5+0.6 pts
212Foard County3.5+0.6 pts
212Lavaca County3.5+0.2 pts
212Tom Green County3.5+0.1 pts
218Callahan County3.4-0.1 pts
218Collingsworth County3.40 pts
218Comanche County3.4+0.1 pts
218Gillespie County3.4+0.2 pts
218Knox County3.4-0.1 pts
218Lipscomb County3.40 pts
218Martin County3.4+0.4 pts
218Moore County3.4+0.3 pts
218Ochiltree County3.40 pts
218Terrell County3.4+0.3 pts
228Coke County3.3-0.1 pts
228Gaines County3.30 pts
228Midland County3.3+0.2 pts
228Oldham County3.3-0.3 pts
232Borden County3.2-0.1 pts
232Crockett County3.2-0.5 pts
232Hardeman County3.2+0.2 pts
232Hartley County3.2+0.1 pts
232Mitchell County3.2-0.1 pts
237Brewster County3.1+0.2 pts
237Carson County3.1+0.3 pts
237Randall County3.1+0.1 pts
237Sherman County3.1+0.1 pts
241Baylor County3-0.2 pts
241Childress County3+0.4 pts
241Edwards County3-0.4 pts
241Parmer County3+0.2 pts
245Armstrong County2.90 pts
245Castro County2.9+0.1 pts
245Crane County2.9+0.2 pts
245Dallam County2.9+0.1 pts
245King County2.9+1 pts
250Stonewall County2.8+0.4 pts

Showing the top 250 of 254. The CSV download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force, using the survey definition of unemployment: without work, available and looking for work. Spain: EPA, aged 16 and over. EU: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74. United States: civilian labour force aged 16 and over, from the Current Population Survey for the nation and from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics models, consistent with that survey, for states and counties. Other countries and the World: ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank, aged 15 and over.

Survey-based. Available for Spain, regions, provinces, EU countries, US states and US counties, not Spanish municipalities. For municipalities use registered_unemployment_rate. US national and state rates are seasonally adjusted; county rates are not. Countries without a national or Eurostat series get the annual ILO modelled estimate, a model output rather than a survey result.

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. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by county, not seasonally adjusted. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in Texas by unemployment rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"unemployment_rate","level":"province","within":"Texas","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=unemployment_rate&level=province&within=Texas&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate?

Starr County, with 10.5% in January 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate?

Loving County, with 0.3% in January 2026.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by county, not seasonally adjusted. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Unemployment rate: other rankings

Counties in Texas: more rankings