Skip to content

Checked

Foster County, ND Economy

Unemployment was 1.7% in Aug 2026 and jobs paid $57,539 a year on average.

Unemployment rate
1.7%
-0.2 pts in a year
Labor force
1,718
+2.6% in a year
Income per person
$69,847
30th of 53 in ND
Average annual pay
$57,539
1,487 jobs, 2025

Unemployment rate in Foster County

Monthly. County rates are not seasonally adjusted, so they rise and fall with the seasons.

Foster CountyNorth Dakota (seasonally adjusted)
Show as a table
PeriodFoster County
Aug 20261.7%
Dec 20251.4%
Dec 20241.9%
Dec 20231.9%
Dec 20222.4%
Dec 20211.8%
Dec 20203.1%
Dec 20192.3%
Dec 20182.4%
Dec 20172.2%
Dec 20162.7%
Dec 20152.9%
Dec 20143.0%
Dec 20133.8%
Dec 20123.3%

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

Jobs and pay by industry

Private employers in Foster County, annual average 2025. Industries with too few employers to publish are left out.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Manufacturing280+2.9%$60,790
Retail trade228+4.6%$35,657
Health care and social assistance205-2.8%$56,226
Wholesale trade150-1.3%$83,469
Accommodation and food services75-12.8%$18,852
Construction61-15.3%$57,050
Agriculture, forestry and fishing550.0%$54,114
Arts, entertainment and recreation230.0%$12,721
Professional and technical services16-11.1%$76,950

Latest quarter (Q1 2026): 1,520 jobs (+4.0% from a year earlier), average weekly wage $1,050.

Income and output

Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

Total personal income
$232M
-10.4% in a year
Income per person
$69,847
ND: $71,749
GDP
$309M
Current dollars
Real GDP growth
-15.3%
Adjusted for inflation
Foster CountyNorth Dakota
Show as a table
PeriodFoster County
2024$69,847
2023$77,737
2022$87,293
2021$81,467
2020$72,672
2019$58,729
2018$58,014
2017$52,981
2016$49,610
2015$48,986
2014$51,974
2013$53,242
2012$66,561
2011$52,280
2010$49,220

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts

Businesses by industry, trucking companies, banks and bankruptcies in Foster County.

Business profile

Businesses in Foster County

County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2024

Employer businesses
138
Employees
1,421
Mid-March
Annual payroll
$78.96M
Self-employed businesses
285
$15.24M receipts

By industry

  • Retail trade2115.2%
  • Construction1813.0%
  • Wholesale trade1712.3%
  • Health care and social assistance1510.9%
  • Finance and insurance139.4%
  • Other services128.7%
  • Accommodation and food services107.2%
  • Manufacturing75.1%

By number of employees

  • 1 to 47454.8%
  • 5 to 93022.2%
  • 10 to 191914.1%
  • 20 to 49128.9%
  • 50 to 9900.0%
  • 100 to 24900.0%
  • 250 to 49900.0%
  • 500 to 99900.0%
  • 1,000 or more00.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics

Neighboring counties

Unemployment rate, Aug 2026

CountyRate1 year
Foster CountyThis county1.7%-0.2 pts
Stutsman County1.9%-0.3 pts
Eddy County1.9%-0.3 pts
Griggs County1.9%-0.2 pts
Wells County2.4%+0.5 pts

Federal money in Foster County

Federal awards, pandemic loans and political donations

Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in Foster County, ND?
The unemployment rate in Foster County was 1.7% in Aug 2026, not seasonally adjusted, with 1,718 people in the labor force.
What is the average salary in Foster County?
Jobs in Foster County paid an average of $57,539 in 2025 ($1,107 a week), across 1,487 jobs covered by unemployment insurance.
What are the biggest industries in Foster County?
The largest private industries by jobs are manufacturing (280), retail trade (228), health care and social assistance (205).
What is the income per person in Foster County?
Personal income per person was $69,847 in 2024, compared with $71,749 for North Dakota. It counts wages, business income, investment income and government benefits.
How many businesses are in Foster County?
Foster County had 138 business establishments with paid employees in 2023, plus 285 businesses with no employees.