Counties in Texas by unemployment rate

Starr County had the highest unemployment rate of 254 counties in February 2026, at 10.1%. Loving County had the lowest, at 0.3%. The median was 4.2% and the figure for Texas was 4.3%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Highest10.1Starr County
Lowest0.3Loving County
Median4.2254 counties
Texas4.3History

Top 40 counties, February 2026

CSVChart (SVG)

Starr CountyStarr County: 10.1 %10.1Maverick CountyMaverick County: 9.7 %9.7Dimmit CountyDimmit County: 7.5 %7.5Zapata CountyZapata County: 7.5 %7.5Kenedy CountyKenedy County: 7.4 %7.4Zavala CountyZavala County: 7.1 %7.1Cameron CountyCameron County: 7 %7Willacy CountyWillacy County: 6.9 %6.9Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County: 6.4 %6.4Sabine CountySabine County: 6.4 %6.4Newton CountyNewton County: 6.3 %6.3Sutton CountySutton County: 6.3 %6.3Marion CountyMarion County: 6.2 %6.2Jasper CountyJasper County: 6.1 %6.1Jefferson CountyJefferson County: 6 %6McCulloch CountyMcCulloch County: 5.9 %5.9Tyler CountyTyler County: 5.8 %5.8Liberty CountyLiberty County: 5.7 %5.7McMullen CountyMcMullen County: 5.7 %5.7Eastland CountyEastland County: 5.6 %5.6Frio CountyFrio County: 5.6 %5.6Jack CountyJack County: 5.6 %5.6Matagorda CountyMatagorda County: 5.6 %5.6Morris CountyMorris County: 5.6 %5.6Presidio CountyPresidio County: 5.6 %5.6Waller CountyWaller County: 5.6 %5.6Hemphill CountyHemphill County: 5.5 %5.5Jim Wells CountyJim Wells County: 5.5 %5.5Trinity CountyTrinity County: 5.5 %5.5Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County: 5.4 %5.4Live Oak CountyLive Oak County: 5.4 %5.4Val Verde CountyVal Verde County: 5.4 %5.4Freestone CountyFreestone County: 5.3 %5.3Real CountyReal County: 5.3 %5.3San Augustine CountySan Augustine County: 5.3 %5.3San Jacinto CountySan Jacinto County: 5.3 %5.3San Patricio CountySan Patricio County: 5.3 %5.3Navarro CountyNavarro County: 5.2 %5.2Refugio CountyRefugio County: 5.2 %5.2Bell CountyBell County: 5.1 %5.1
%. Source: BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCountiesFebruary 2026 (%)Change on February 2025
1Starr County10.1+0.2 pts
2Maverick County9.7+0.8 pts
3Dimmit County7.5+0.5 pts
3Zapata County7.5-0.4 pts
5Kenedy County7.4-0.9 pts
6Zavala County7.10 pts
7Cameron County7+1.4 pts
8Willacy County6.9+1.1 pts
9Hidalgo County6.4+0.4 pts
9Sabine County6.4+0.3 pts
11Newton County6.3+0.4 pts
11Sutton County6.3-0.1 pts
13Marion County6.2+0.3 pts
14Jasper County6.10 pts
15Jefferson County6+0.3 pts
16McCulloch County5.9+1.5 pts
17Tyler County5.8-0.4 pts
18Liberty County5.7+0.4 pts
18McMullen County5.7+1 pts
20Eastland County5.6+0.2 pts
20Frio County5.6-1.7 pts
20Jack County5.6-0.1 pts
20Matagorda County5.6-0.2 pts
20Morris County5.6+0.2 pts
20Presidio County5.6-1.2 pts
20Waller County5.6+0.3 pts
27Hemphill County5.5+0.5 pts
27Jim Wells County5.5+0.2 pts
27Trinity County5.5+0.2 pts
30Jeff Davis County5.4+0.6 pts
30Live Oak County5.4+0.5 pts
30Val Verde County5.4-1.2 pts
33Freestone County5.3+0.4 pts
33Real County5.3+0.6 pts
33San Augustine County5.3-0.3 pts
33San Jacinto County5.3-0.1 pts
33San Patricio County5.3+0.4 pts
38Navarro County5.2+0.5 pts
38Refugio County5.2+0.3 pts
40Bell County5.1+0.4 pts
40Cass County5.1-0.1 pts
40Chambers County5.1+0.4 pts
40Goliad County5.1+0.6 pts
40Panola County5.1-0.2 pts
40Polk County5.1+0.2 pts
40Shelby County5.1+0.3 pts
40Wood County5.1+0.1 pts
48Aransas County5+0.2 pts
48Bee County5-0.1 pts
48Camp County5+0.6 pts
48Coryell County5+0.2 pts
48DeWitt County5+0.1 pts
48Garza County5-0.9 pts
54Brazoria County4.9+0.3 pts
54Duval County4.9+0.1 pts
54Gregg County4.9+0.2 pts
54Orange County4.9+0.3 pts
54Red River County4.9+0.1 pts
54Roberts County4.9+0.4 pts
54Throckmorton County4.9+0.5 pts
61Atascosa County4.8+0.3 pts
61Grimes County4.8+0.1 pts
61Harris County4.8+0.2 pts
61Harrison County4.8-0.2 pts
61Jim Hogg County4.8+0.2 pts
61Nacogdoches County4.8+0.3 pts
61Webb County4.8+0.2 pts
68Angelina County4.7+0.3 pts
68Hale County4.7+0.5 pts
68Henderson County4.70 pts
68Kleberg County4.7+0.3 pts
68Schleicher County4.7-0.1 pts
68Uvalde County4.7+0.3 pts
74Anderson County4.6+0.2 pts
74Cherokee County4.6+0.3 pts
74Fort Bend County4.6+0.2 pts
74Galveston County4.6+0.2 pts
74Hamilton County4.6+0.1 pts
74Houston County4.60 pts
74Lamar County4.6+0.4 pts
74Rusk County4.60 pts
74Walker County4.6+0.2 pts
74Wharton County4.6+0.2 pts
84Delta County4.5+0.4 pts
84El Paso County4.5+0.2 pts
84Hardin County4.5-0.1 pts
84Hood County4.50 pts
84Hunt County4.5+0.2 pts
84Hutchinson County4.5-0.1 pts
84Jackson County4.5+0.2 pts
84Kinney County4.5-0.5 pts
84La Salle County4.5-1.3 pts
84Limestone County4.5-0.1 pts
84Motley County4.5+0.9 pts
84Nueces County4.5+0.2 pts
84Pecos County4.5+0.4 pts
84Potter County4.5+0.9 pts
84Stephens County4.5+0.1 pts
84Upshur County4.5-0.1 pts
100Bowie County4.4+0.1 pts
100Dawson County4.4+0.1 pts
100Kaufman County4.4+0.2 pts
100Lampasas County4.4+0.1 pts
100Medina County4.40 pts
100Milam County4.40 pts
100Montgomery County4.4+0.2 pts
100Reagan County4.4-0.3 pts
100Somervell County4.40 pts
100Victoria County4.4+0.2 pts
100Yoakum County4.4+0.5 pts
111Bailey County4.3-0.1 pts
111Bandera County4.3+0.2 pts
111Bexar County4.3+0.2 pts
111Bosque County4.3+0.1 pts
111Brooks County4.3+0.1 pts
111Dallas County4.30 pts
111Falls County4.30 pts
111Karnes County4.3-0.2 pts
111Llano County4.3+0.2 pts
111Madison County4.3-0.2 pts
111Montague County4.3-0.1 pts
111Swisher County4.3-0.7 pts
111Terry County4.3+0.1 pts
111Titus County4.3+0.4 pts
111Van Zandt County4.30 pts
126Austin County4.2+0.3 pts
126Gray County4.2+0.2 pts
126Grayson County4.2+0.2 pts
126Hall County4.2-0.7 pts
126Hill County4.2+0.2 pts
126Kent County4.20 pts
126Nolan County4.2+0.2 pts
126Rains County4.2+0.2 pts
126Tarrant County4.2+0.1 pts
126Wichita County4.2+0.2 pts
136Brown County4.1+0.2 pts
136Collin County4.1+0.1 pts
136Crosby County4.1-0.4 pts
136Donley County4.1-0.2 pts
136Ellis County4.1+0.2 pts
136Floyd County4.1-0.3 pts
136Guadalupe County4.1+0.3 pts
136Hockley County4.1+0.2 pts
136Kimble County4.1+0.1 pts
136McLennan County4.1+0.1 pts
136Palo Pinto County4.1-0.2 pts
136Robertson County4.1-0.3 pts
136Smith County4.1+0.1 pts
136Washington County4.1-0.2 pts
136Wilson County4.1+0.3 pts
151Burnet County4+0.3 pts
151Calhoun County4+0.6 pts
151Clay County40 pts
151Comal County4+0.2 pts
151Ector County4+0.2 pts
151Fannin County40 pts
151Fayette County4-0.1 pts
151Howard County4+0.4 pts
151Lee County4+0.3 pts
151Shackelford County4+0.5 pts
161Caldwell County3.9+0.1 pts
161Coleman County3.9+0.2 pts
161Denton County3.90 pts
161Haskell County3.9-0.2 pts
161Johnson County3.9+0.1 pts
161Mason County3.9+0.2 pts
161Menard County3.9+0.7 pts
161Reeves County3.90 pts
161Rockwall County3.9+0.1 pts
161San Saba County3.9+0.2 pts
161Scurry County3.9-0.1 pts
161Wilbarger County3.90 pts
161Wise County3.90 pts
174Bastrop County3.80 pts
174Blanco County3.8+0.3 pts
174Colorado County3.80 pts
174Concho County3.8+0.1 pts
174Deaf Smith County3.8+0.2 pts
174Gonzales County3.8+0.1 pts
174Hansford County3.8+0.4 pts
174Hays County3.8+0.2 pts
174Irion County3.8+0.1 pts
174Kendall County3.8+0.2 pts
174Leon County3.8-0.1 pts
174Williamson County3.8+0.1 pts
186Brazos County3.7-0.2 pts
186Cochran County3.7-0.2 pts
186Franklin County3.7-0.1 pts
186Kerr County3.7+0.2 pts
186Lubbock County3.7+0.1 pts
186Ward County3.70 pts
186Wheeler County3.7+0.2 pts
193Andrews County3.6+0.5 pts
193Burleson County3.6-0.3 pts
193Culberson County3.60 pts
193Erath County3.6-0.2 pts
193Fisher County3.6+0.7 pts
193Hopkins County3.6+0.1 pts
193Hudspeth County3.6-0.3 pts
193Jones County3.6+0.1 pts
193Lamb County3.60 pts
193Lynn County3.6+0.2 pts
193Parker County3.60 pts
193Taylor County3.60 pts
193Terrell County3.6+0.1 pts
193Travis County3.60 pts
207Archer County3.5-0.4 pts
207Collingsworth County3.50 pts
207Cooke County3.50 pts
207Dickens County3.5-0.7 pts
207Lavaca County3.5+0.1 pts
207Mills County3.5+0.4 pts
207Runnels County3.5-0.1 pts
207Sterling County3.5+0.2 pts
207Tom Green County3.50 pts
207Winkler County3.5+0.2 pts
207Young County3.5-0.2 pts
218Callahan County3.4-0.1 pts
218Mitchell County3.4+0.1 pts
218Ochiltree County3.4-0.1 pts
221Briscoe County3.3-0.5 pts
221Carson County3.3+0.3 pts
221Comanche County3.3+0.1 pts
221Gillespie County3.30 pts
221Knox County3.3-0.5 pts
221Martin County3.3+0.1 pts
221Midland County3.3+0.1 pts
221Moore County3.3+0.2 pts
221Randall County3.3+0.2 pts
230Crockett County3.2-0.5 pts
230Foard County3.20 pts
230Gaines County3.2-0.1 pts
230Hardeman County3.20 pts
230Lipscomb County3.2-0.2 pts
230Oldham County3.2-0.3 pts
236Armstrong County3.1+0.1 pts
236Hartley County3.10 pts
238Borden County3-0.5 pts
238Brewster County30 pts
238Crane County3+0.2 pts
238Edwards County3-0.3 pts
238Parmer County3+0.1 pts
243Baylor County2.9-0.2 pts
243Castro County2.9+0.1 pts
243Dallam County2.90 pts
243Sherman County2.90 pts
247Childress County2.8+0.3 pts
247Coke County2.8-0.7 pts
247King County2.8+0.3 pts
250Glasscock County2.5-0.3 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.

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Rank Counties in Texas by unemployment rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate?

Starr County, with 10.1% in February 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate?

Loving County, with 0.3% in February 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