Fastest-growing job markets in New England
Key facts
- #1 Washington County, RI: +8.3%
- #2 Cumberland County, ME: +5.1%
- #3 York County, ME: +4.5%
- 24 counties ranked in New England
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: +0.7% across all large counties.
- 1Washington County RI+8.3%
- 2Cumberland County ME+5.1%
- 3York County ME+4.5%
- 4Rockingham County NH+4.1%
- 5Kent County RI+3.3%
- 6Providence County RI+3.1%
- 7Plymouth County MA+2.4%
- 8Norfolk County MA+2.1%
- 9Essex County MA+2.1%
- 10Penobscot County ME+2.0%
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Washington County (+8.3%) is well clear of Penobscot County at #10 (+2.0%).
- Washington County reaches #1 on a sample of 51,344 jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Norfolk County is the largest market in the top ten, with 312,340 jobs behind its figure.
- Counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Private-sector job counts and population growth show which counties are adding people and work, rather than which are already large.
How to use it
If you are choosing where to settle, growth counties often have newer employers still building teams. Read the county page for its largest employers and layoffs.
The top 25
- 1
Washington County RI
+8.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 51,344
- Jobs added since 2022
- +3,954
- Population since 2020
- +0.0%
Based on 51,344 jobs.
- 2
Cumberland County ME
+5.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 174,459
- Jobs added since 2022
- +8,471
- Population since 2020
- +4.5%
Based on 174,459 jobs.
- 3
York County ME
+4.5%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 62,524
- Jobs added since 2022
- +2,675
- Population since 2020
- +4.8%
Based on 62,524 jobs.
- 4
Rockingham County NH
+4.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 142,978
- Jobs added since 2022
- +5,581
- Population since 2020
- +3.0%
Based on 142,978 jobs.
- 5
Kent County RI
+3.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 69,558
- Jobs added since 2022
- +2,224
- Population since 2020
- +1.8%
Based on 69,558 jobs.
- 6
Providence County RI
+3.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 255,333
- Jobs added since 2022
- +7,729
- Population since 2020
- +2.8%
Based on 255,333 jobs.
- 7
Plymouth County MA
+2.4%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 167,013
- Jobs added since 2022
- +3,899
- Population since 2020
- +3.5%
Based on 167,013 jobs.
- 8
Norfolk County MA
+2.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 312,340
- Jobs added since 2022
- +6,485
- Population since 2020
- +2.2%
Based on 312,340 jobs.
- 9
Essex County MA
+2.1%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 284,639
- Jobs added since 2022
- +5,804
- Population since 2020
- +2.3%
Based on 284,639 jobs.
- 10
Penobscot County ME
+2.0%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 59,369
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,179
- Population since 2020
- +3.8%
Based on 59,369 jobs.
- 11
Kennebec County ME
+1.9%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 45,542
- Jobs added since 2022
- +857
- Population since 2020
- +3.5%
Based on 45,542 jobs.
- 12
Merrimack County NH
+1.5%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 60,473
- Jobs added since 2022
- +869
- Population since 2020
- +2.6%
Based on 60,473 jobs.
- 13
Chittenden County VT
+1.5%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 86,118
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,237
- Population since 2020
- +0.4%
Based on 86,118 jobs.
- 14
Barnstable County MA
+1.4%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 81,795
- Jobs added since 2022
- +1,128
- Population since 2020
- +2.4%
Based on 81,795 jobs.
- 15
Suffolk County MA
+1.2%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 631,022
- Jobs added since 2022
- +7,661
- Population since 2020
- +0.1%
Based on 631,022 jobs.
- 16
Worcester County MA
+0.9%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 301,530
- Jobs added since 2022
- +2,585
- Population since 2020
- +3.7%
Based on 301,530 jobs.
- 17
Androscoggin County ME
+0.8%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 42,761
- Jobs added since 2022
- +357
- Population since 2020
- +4.8%
Based on 42,761 jobs.
- 18
Berkshire County MA
−0.9%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 49,984
- Jobs added since 2022
- −478
- Population since 2020
- −1.2%
Based on 49,984 jobs.
- 19
Hillsborough County NH
−1.3%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 178,067
- Jobs added since 2022
- −2,338
- Population since 2020
- +2.5%
Based on 178,067 jobs.
- 20
Bristol County MA
−1.4%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 194,899
- Jobs added since 2022
- −2,846
- Population since 2020
- +2.9%
Based on 194,899 jobs.
- 21
Strafford County NH
−1.4%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 37,972
- Jobs added since 2022
- −556
- Population since 2020
- +3.0%
Based on 37,972 jobs.
- 22
Hampshire County MA
−1.6%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 47,749
- Jobs added since 2022
- −762
- Population since 2020
- +10.4%
Based on 47,749 jobs.
- 23
Middlesex County MA
−2.8%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 811,193
- Jobs added since 2022
- −23,151
- Population since 2020
- +2.8%
Based on 811,193 jobs.
- 24
Hampden County MA
−3.2%
- Private-sector jobs, 2025
- 168,285
- Jobs added since 2022
- −5,643
- Population since 2020
- +0.1%
Based on 168,285 jobs.
Full ranking
All 24 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | County | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington County RI | +8.3% | 51,344 |
| 2 | Cumberland County ME | +5.1% | 174,459 |
| 3 | York County ME | +4.5% | 62,524 |
| 4 | Rockingham County NH | +4.1% | 142,978 |
| 5 | Kent County RI | +3.3% | 69,558 |
| 6 | Providence County RI | +3.1% | 255,333 |
| 7 | Plymouth County MA | +2.4% | 167,013 |
| 8 | Norfolk County MA | +2.1% | 312,340 |
| 9 | Essex County MA | +2.1% | 284,639 |
| 10 | Penobscot County ME | +2.0% | 59,369 |
| 11 | Kennebec County ME | +1.9% | 45,542 |
| 12 | Merrimack County NH | +1.5% | 60,473 |
| 13 | Chittenden County VT | +1.5% | 86,118 |
| 14 | Barnstable County MA | +1.4% | 81,795 |
| 15 | Suffolk County MA | +1.2% | 631,022 |
| 16 | Worcester County MA | +0.9% | 301,530 |
| 17 | Androscoggin County ME | +0.8% | 42,761 |
| 18 | Berkshire County MA | −0.9% | 49,984 |
| 19 | Hillsborough County NH | −1.3% | 178,067 |
| 20 | Bristol County MA | −1.4% | 194,899 |
| 21 | Strafford County NH | −1.4% | 37,972 |
| 22 | Hampshire County MA | −1.6% | 47,749 |
| 23 | Middlesex County MA | −2.8% | 811,193 |
| 24 | Hampden County MA | −3.2% | 168,285 |
How this ranking works
A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.
Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 jobs are not ranked.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2022 to 2025; Census Bureau population estimates, 2020 to 2025. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which county ranks first: fastest-growing job markets in new england?
- Washington County leads New England for job growth: private-sector jobs are +8.3% since 2022, against +0.7% across all large counties.
- How many counties are ranked?
- 24 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 24 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A county's score is the change in private-sector jobs from 2022 to 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Only counties with at least 20,000 private-sector jobs in 2022 and 100,000 residents are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Sectors a county suppresses for confidentiality are left out of that county's total.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
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Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Fastest-growing job markets in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-new-england
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-new-england">Fastest-growing job markets in New England (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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