Counties in Texas by unemployment rate

Starr County had the highest unemployment rate of 254 counties in May 2026, at 8.8%. Loving County had the lowest, at 1%. The median was 4.1% and the figure for Texas was 4.3%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Highest8.8Starr County
Median4.1254 counties
Texas4.3History

Top 40 counties, May 2026

CSVChart (SVG)

Starr CountyStarr County: 8.8 %8.8Maverick CountyMaverick County: 8.6 %8.6Kenedy CountyKenedy County: 8 %8Zapata CountyZapata County: 7 %7Dimmit CountyDimmit County: 6.8 %6.8Sabine CountySabine County: 6.8 %6.8Willacy CountyWillacy County: 6.8 %6.8Cameron CountyCameron County: 6.6 %6.6Sutton CountySutton County: 6.4 %6.4Zavala CountyZavala County: 6.4 %6.4Presidio CountyPresidio County: 6.3 %6.3Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County: 6.1 %6.1Newton CountyNewton County: 6.1 %6.1Val Verde CountyVal Verde County: 6 %6Eastland CountyEastland County: 5.9 %5.9Jasper CountyJasper County: 5.8 %5.8Jefferson CountyJefferson County: 5.8 %5.8Morris CountyMorris County: 5.7 %5.7Tyler CountyTyler County: 5.7 %5.7Marion CountyMarion County: 5.6 %5.6Matagorda CountyMatagorda County: 5.6 %5.6Liberty CountyLiberty County: 5.5 %5.5Trinity CountyTrinity County: 5.5 %5.5Jim Wells CountyJim Wells County: 5.4 %5.4McMullen CountyMcMullen County: 5.4 %5.4Waller CountyWaller County: 5.4 %5.4Jack CountyJack County: 5.3 %5.3Refugio CountyRefugio County: 5.2 %5.2San Augustine CountySan Augustine County: 5.2 %5.2Chambers CountyChambers County: 5.1 %5.1Frio CountyFrio County: 5.1 %5.1Goliad CountyGoliad County: 5.1 %5.1Live Oak CountyLive Oak County: 5 %5Red River CountyRed River County: 5 %5San Jacinto CountySan Jacinto County: 5 %5Garza CountyGarza County: 4.9 %4.9McCulloch CountyMcCulloch County: 4.9 %4.9Nacogdoches CountyNacogdoches County: 4.9 %4.9Orange CountyOrange County: 4.9 %4.9Panola CountyPanola County: 4.9 %4.9
%. Source: BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCountiesMay 2026 (%)Change on May 2025
1Starr County8.8+0.2 pts
2Maverick County8.6-1.4 pts
3Kenedy County8-0.6 pts
4Zapata County7+0.6 pts
5Dimmit County6.80 pts
5Sabine County6.8+0.9 pts
5Willacy County6.8+1.5 pts
8Cameron County6.6-0.5 pts
9Sutton County6.4+0.7 pts
9Zavala County6.40 pts
11Presidio County6.3+0.5 pts
12Hidalgo County6.1+0.2 pts
12Newton County6.1+0.1 pts
14Val Verde County6+1.3 pts
15Eastland County5.9+0.7 pts
16Jasper County5.8+0.1 pts
16Jefferson County5.8+0.5 pts
18Morris County5.7+0.4 pts
18Tyler County5.7+0.1 pts
20Marion County5.6+0.1 pts
20Matagorda County5.6+0.2 pts
22Liberty County5.5+0.5 pts
22Trinity County5.5+0.8 pts
24Jim Wells County5.4+0.7 pts
24McMullen County5.4+0.6 pts
24Waller County5.4+0.7 pts
27Jack County5.3-0.1 pts
28Refugio County5.2+0.8 pts
28San Augustine County5.2-0.1 pts
30Chambers County5.1+0.6 pts
30Frio County5.1-0.9 pts
30Goliad County5.1+0.9 pts
33Live Oak County5+0.3 pts
33Red River County5+0.5 pts
33San Jacinto County5+0.2 pts
36Garza County4.9-0.2 pts
36McCulloch County4.9+0.7 pts
36Nacogdoches County4.9+0.4 pts
36Orange County4.9+0.7 pts
36Panola County4.9+0.3 pts
36Polk County4.9+0.4 pts
36San Patricio County4.9+0.3 pts
36Shelby County4.9+0.4 pts
44Bee County4.8+0.1 pts
44Bell County4.8+0.4 pts
44Cass County4.8+0.2 pts
44Coryell County4.8+0.2 pts
44DeWitt County4.8+0.2 pts
44Duval County4.8+0.3 pts
44Navarro County4.8+0.4 pts
44Wood County4.8+0.2 pts
52Brazoria County4.7+0.3 pts
52Camp County4.7+0.5 pts
52Gregg County4.7+0.4 pts
52Throckmorton County4.7+0.6 pts
56Angelina County4.6+0.4 pts
56Freestone County4.6+0.2 pts
56Galveston County4.6+0.4 pts
56Harris County4.6+0.3 pts
56Hemphill County4.6-0.2 pts
56Lamar County4.6+0.7 pts
56Real County4.6+0.9 pts
56Wharton County4.6+0.5 pts
64Aransas County4.50 pts
64Atascosa County4.5+0.4 pts
64Borden County4.5+0.8 pts
64Fort Bend County4.5+0.5 pts
64Hardin County4.5+0.2 pts
64Harrison County4.5-0.1 pts
64Henderson County4.5+0.3 pts
64Kleberg County4.5+0.4 pts
64Pecos County4.5+0.5 pts
64Rusk County4.5+0.4 pts
64Uvalde County4.5+0.5 pts
64Webb County4.5-0.1 pts
76Cherokee County4.4+0.4 pts
76Grimes County4.4+0.2 pts
76Hall County4.4+0.1 pts
76Hamilton County4.4+0.6 pts
76Jeff Davis County4.4+0.5 pts
76Jim Hogg County4.4-1 pts
76Kinney County4.4+0.5 pts
76La Salle County4.40 pts
76Madison County4.4+0.1 pts
76Menard County4.4+0.8 pts
76Roberts County4.4-0.3 pts
76Schleicher County4.4+0.2 pts
76Stephens County4.4+0.4 pts
76Upshur County4.4+0.3 pts
76Walker County4.4+0.2 pts
91Anderson County4.3+0.3 pts
91El Paso County4.3+0.1 pts
91Hood County4.3+0.2 pts
91Houston County4.30 pts
91Hunt County4.3+0.4 pts
91Kaufman County4.3+0.5 pts
91Nueces County4.3+0.3 pts
91Somervell County4.3+0.4 pts
91Terry County4.3+0.2 pts
100Bexar County4.2+0.4 pts
100Bowie County4.2+0.3 pts
100Dallas County4.2+0.3 pts
100Dawson County4.2+0.3 pts
100Delta County4.2+0.3 pts
100Hale County4.2+0.3 pts
100Lampasas County4.2+0.2 pts
100Limestone County4.20 pts
100Medina County4.2+0.2 pts
100Milam County4.20 pts
100Montague County4.2+0.2 pts
100Montgomery County4.2+0.3 pts
100Potter County4.2+0.9 pts
100Victoria County4.2+0.3 pts
114Bandera County4.1+0.3 pts
114Brooks County4.1+0.3 pts
114Cochran County4.1+0.1 pts
114Donley County4.1+0.1 pts
114Grayson County4.1+0.4 pts
114Haskell County4.1+0.1 pts
114Howard County4.1+0.5 pts
114Hudspeth County4.1+0.2 pts
114Jackson County4.10 pts
114Karnes County4.1+0.2 pts
114Motley County4.1+0.2 pts
114Rains County4.1+0.5 pts
114Robertson County4.1+0.1 pts
114Titus County4.1+0.2 pts
114Van Zandt County4.1+0.3 pts
114Yoakum County4.1+0.2 pts
130Collin County4+0.4 pts
130Falls County4+0.1 pts
130Floyd County4+0.2 pts
130Guadalupe County4+0.4 pts
130Hill County4+0.4 pts
130Hutchinson County4+0.1 pts
130Irion County4+1.2 pts
130Llano County4+0.3 pts
130McLennan County4+0.3 pts
130Nolan County4+0.4 pts
130Reagan County4-0.1 pts
130San Saba County4+0.4 pts
130Swisher County4-0.5 pts
130Tarrant County4+0.3 pts
144Austin County3.9+0.2 pts
144Bosque County3.9+0.1 pts
144Brown County3.9+0.2 pts
144Coleman County3.9+0.6 pts
144Comal County3.9+0.4 pts
144Crosby County3.90 pts
144Ector County3.9+0.4 pts
144Ellis County3.9+0.3 pts
144Fannin County3.9+0.2 pts
144Gray County3.9+0.2 pts
144Hansford County3.9+0.4 pts
144Kent County3.9-1 pts
144Palo Pinto County3.9+0.1 pts
144Scurry County3.9+0.1 pts
144Smith County3.9+0.3 pts
144Wilbarger County3.9+0.2 pts
144Wilson County3.9+0.4 pts
161Bailey County3.8-0.3 pts
161Burnet County3.8+0.4 pts
161Caldwell County3.8+0.4 pts
161Calhoun County3.8+0.1 pts
161Clay County3.8+0.1 pts
161Colorado County3.8+0.3 pts
161Denton County3.8+0.3 pts
161Fayette County3.8+0.1 pts
161Gonzales County3.8+0.2 pts
161Hockley County3.8+0.2 pts
161Kimble County3.8+0.2 pts
161Rockwall County3.8+0.4 pts
161Ward County3.8+0.5 pts
161Washington County3.80 pts
161Wheeler County3.8+0.8 pts
161Wichita County3.8+0.3 pts
177Bastrop County3.7+0.2 pts
177Blanco County3.7+0.3 pts
177Concho County3.7+0.6 pts
177Deaf Smith County3.7+0.4 pts
177Johnson County3.7+0.3 pts
177Leon County3.7+0.3 pts
177Shackelford County3.7+0.6 pts
177Wise County3.7+0.4 pts
185Archer County3.6+0.2 pts
185Brazos County3.6+0.2 pts
185Culberson County3.6-0.5 pts
185Erath County3.6+0.2 pts
185Franklin County3.6+0.3 pts
185Hays County3.6+0.3 pts
185Kendall County3.6+0.3 pts
185Lubbock County3.6+0.3 pts
185Mason County3.60 pts
185Reeves County3.6+0.2 pts
185Terrell County3.6+0.3 pts
185Williamson County3.6+0.3 pts
197Burleson County3.5+0.2 pts
197Comanche County3.5+0.5 pts
197Foard County3.5+0.2 pts
197Hopkins County3.5+0.3 pts
197Lee County3.5+0.1 pts
197Parker County3.5+0.2 pts
197Runnels County3.5+0.1 pts
197Travis County3.5+0.3 pts
205Andrews County3.4+0.5 pts
205Armstrong County3.4+0.1 pts
205Dickens County3.4-0.5 pts
205Jones County3.4+0.2 pts
205Kerr County3.4+0.1 pts
205Lamb County3.40 pts
205Lavaca County3.4+0.2 pts
205Mills County3.4+0.2 pts
205Sterling County3.4-0.2 pts
205Taylor County3.4+0.1 pts
205Tom Green County3.4+0.3 pts
205Young County3.40 pts
217Callahan County3.3+0.1 pts
217Collingsworth County3.3+0.1 pts
217Cooke County3.3+0.1 pts
217Hardeman County3.3+0.5 pts
217Knox County3.3-0.3 pts
217Lynn County3.30 pts
217Mitchell County3.3+0.2 pts
217Ochiltree County3.3+0.2 pts
225Briscoe County3.20 pts
225Carson County3.2+0.4 pts
225Moore County3.2+0.4 pts
225Oldham County3.2+0.1 pts
225Winkler County3.2+0.3 pts
230Fisher County3.1+0.4 pts
230Gaines County3.10 pts
230Gillespie County3.1+0.1 pts
230Lipscomb County3.10 pts
230Midland County3.1+0.2 pts
230Sherman County3.1+0.2 pts
236Hartley County30 pts
236Randall County3+0.2 pts
238Castro County2.9+0.2 pts
238Crane County2.9+0.4 pts
238Crockett County2.9-0.4 pts
238Edwards County2.9-0.2 pts
238Martin County2.9-0.1 pts
243Baylor County2.8-0.1 pts
243Brewster County2.8-0.1 pts
243Coke County2.8-0.4 pts
243Parmer County2.8-0.1 pts
247Dallam County2.7-0.1 pts
248Childress County2.6+0.2 pts
249Glasscock County2.5-0.1 pts
250Stonewall County2.4+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.

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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 8.8% in May 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate?

Loving County, with 1% in May 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