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North Dakota Economy

Unemployment was 2.2% in Sep 2026, the 2nd lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $71,749 per person.

Unemployment rate
2.2%
-0.4 pts in a year
Labor force
430,270
-0.5% in a year
Income per person
$71,749
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$67,580
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in North Dakota

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

North DakotaUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodNorth Dakota
Sep 20262.2%
Dec 20252.6%
Dec 20242.5%
Dec 20232.2%
Dec 20222.1%
Dec 20212.3%
Dec 20204.4%
Dec 20192.0%
Dec 20182.3%
Dec 20172.6%
Dec 20162.9%
Dec 20152.9%
Dec 20142.6%
Dec 20132.8%
Dec 20123.0%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in North Dakota

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Cass County1.8%-0.3 pts120,301$74,118$68,760
2Burleigh County1.7%-0.3 pts53,521$75,724$65,824
3Grand Forks County1.6%-0.4 pts40,583$66,422$61,512
4Ward County1.7%-0.5 pts36,423$68,835$62,404
5Williams County2.1%-0.5 pts20,697$76,176$92,058
6Morton County1.8%-0.2 pts19,556$64,468$60,350
7Stark County1.9%-0.2 pts16,833$73,173$73,896
8Stutsman County1.6%-0.3 pts11,240$66,311$59,063
9Richland County1.6%-0.4 pts9,100$68,548$56,749
10McKenzie County1.9%-0.5 pts8,075$83,041$92,072
11Ramsey County1.5%-0.6 pts6,101$65,460$52,177
12Barnes County1.9%-0.4 pts5,627$65,538$53,412
13Walsh County2.0%-0.3 pts5,416$74,307$56,696
14Rolette County2.9%-0.4 pts5,222$58,110$53,596
15McLean County1.8%-0.4 pts4,879$70,392$72,296
16Traill County2.0%-0.1 pts4,325$71,172$62,734
17Mountrail County2.0%-0.3 pts4,093$79,698$78,674
18Dickey County0.9%-0.6 pts3,983$95,638$67,740
19Mercer County2.1%-0.4 pts3,972$69,934$82,863
20Pembina County2.7%0.0 pts3,312$87,020$60,917
21Bottineau County1.6%-0.7 pts3,300$76,250$53,684
22McHenry County2.5%0.0 pts2,798$68,058$55,314
23Ransom County1.5%-0.9 pts2,772$72,353$51,899
24LaMoure County1.7%-0.1 pts2,298$75,679$51,816
25Benson County2.1%-0.6 pts2,124$54,516$55,158
All 53 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in North Dakota

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance65,808+2.5%$68,318
Retail trade46,171+1.0%$40,464
Construction30,043+3.2%$84,290
Manufacturing27,820-1.4%$73,087
Wholesale trade24,165-1.4%$89,477
Mining, oil and gas17,184-5.6%$134,774
Professional and technical services16,848-0.6%$93,288
Finance and insurance16,386-2.5%$93,561
Administrative and support services12,605-3.8%$54,260
Real estate and rental5,323-0.3%$69,775
Agriculture, forestry and fishing4,805-2.7%$57,826
Management of companies4,774-0.4%$123,331
Educational services3,574+2.6%$43,822

Government employs 75,578 people (17.6% of all jobs): 9,076 federal, 18,758 state and 47,744 local.

Output and businesses in North Dakota

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$80.1B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+2.0%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
25,402
352,108 employees
  • Retail trade3,10312.2%
  • Construction2,94611.6%
  • Other services2,65910.5%
  • Health care and social assistance2,4299.6%
  • Accommodation and food services2,1548.5%
  • Professional and technical services1,9547.7%
  • Finance and insurance1,8337.2%
  • Wholesale trade1,7566.9%
  • Transportation and warehousing1,4795.8%
  • Administrative and support services1,1764.6%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in North Dakota?
North Dakota's unemployment rate was 2.2% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in North Dakota has the highest unemployment?
Rolette County has the highest rate at 2.9%, and Dickey County has the lowest at 0.9% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in North Dakota?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 65,808 jobs, followed by retail trade (46,171) and construction (30,043).
What is the average salary in North Dakota?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in North Dakota was $67,580 in 2025, or $1,300 a week.
How big is North Dakota's economy?
North Dakota's GDP was $80.1B in 2024, about $100,504 per resident.