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Fastest-growing job markets in the Southwest

Kaufman County leads the Southwest for job growth: private-sector jobs are +19.2% since 2022, against +5.3% across all large counties.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

Key facts

  • #1 Kaufman County, TX: +19.2%
  • #2 Pinal County, AZ: +17.9%
  • #3 Hays County, TX: +17.1%
  • 61 counties ranked in the Southwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: +5.3% across all large counties.

  1. 1Kaufman County TX+19.2%
  2. 2Pinal County AZ+17.9%
  3. 3Hays County TX+17.1%
  4. 4Rockwall County TX+16.1%
  5. 5Williamson County TX+14.8%
  6. 6Johnson County TX+14.1%
  7. 7Fort Bend County TX+13.3%
  8. 8Guadalupe County TX+12.0%
  9. 9Sandoval County NM+11.7%
  10. 10Grayson County TX+11.4%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Kaufman County (+19.2%) is well clear of Grayson County at #10 (+11.4%).
  • Fort Bend County is the largest market in the top ten, with 213,954 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. 1

    Kaufman County TX

    +19.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    36,096
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,814
    Population since 2020
    +42.2%

    Based on 36,096 jobs.

    Kaufman County job market

  2. 2

    Pinal County AZ

    +17.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    58,658
    Jobs added since 2022
    +8,913
    Population since 2020
    +25.4%

    Based on 58,658 jobs.

    Pinal County job market

  3. 3

    Hays County TX

    +17.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    82,255
    Jobs added since 2022
    +11,996
    Population since 2020
    +24.8%

    Based on 82,255 jobs.

    Hays County job market

  4. 4

    Rockwall County TX

    +16.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    38,606
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,349
    Population since 2020
    +28.9%

    Based on 38,606 jobs.

    Rockwall County job market

  5. 5

    Williamson County TX

    +14.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    209,472
    Jobs added since 2022
    +27,080
    Population since 2020
    +22.3%

    Based on 209,472 jobs.

    Williamson County job market

  6. 6

    Johnson County TX

    +14.1%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    51,580
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,378
    Population since 2020
    +20.5%

    Based on 51,580 jobs.

    Johnson County job market

  7. 7

    Fort Bend County TX

    +13.3%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    213,954
    Jobs added since 2022
    +25,178
    Population since 2020
    +17.4%

    Based on 213,954 jobs.

    Fort Bend County job market

  8. 8

    Guadalupe County TX

    +12.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    42,596
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,554
    Population since 2020
    +15.8%

    Based on 42,596 jobs.

    Guadalupe County job market

  9. 9

    Sandoval County NM

    +11.7%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    26,499
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,784
    Population since 2020
    +6.9%

    Based on 26,499 jobs.

    Sandoval County job market

  10. 10

    Grayson County TX

    +11.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    44,880
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,609
    Population since 2020
    +12.8%

    Based on 44,880 jobs.

    Grayson County job market

  11. 11

    Midland County TX

    +11.4%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    109,487
    Jobs added since 2022
    +11,166
    Population since 2020
    +10.0%

    Based on 109,487 jobs.

    Midland County job market

  12. 12

    Hunt County TX

    +11.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    24,384
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,451
    Population since 2020
    +23.0%

    Based on 24,384 jobs.

    Hunt County job market

  13. 13

    Montgomery County TX

    +11.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    200,121
    Jobs added since 2022
    +19,788
    Population since 2020
    +24.9%

    Based on 200,121 jobs.

    Montgomery County job market

  14. 14

    Collin County TX

    +11.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    500,403
    Jobs added since 2022
    +49,404
    Population since 2020
    +20.6%

    Based on 500,403 jobs.

    Collin County job market

  15. 15

    Parker County TX

    +10.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    35,973
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,545
    Population since 2020
    +23.5%

    Based on 35,973 jobs.

    Parker County job market

  16. 16

    Comal County TX

    +10.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    68,496
    Jobs added since 2022
    +6,543
    Population since 2020
    +27.8%

    Based on 68,496 jobs.

    Comal County job market

  17. 17

    Doña Ana County NM

    +10.2%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    62,617
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,799
    Population since 2020
    +4.1%

    Based on 62,617 jobs.

    Doña Ana County job market

  18. 18

    Denton County TX

    +9.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    273,432
    Jobs added since 2022
    +22,671
    Population since 2020
    +16.9%

    Based on 273,432 jobs.

    Denton County job market

  19. 19

    Canadian County OK

    +9.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    31,278
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,577
    Population since 2020
    +20.4%

    Based on 31,278 jobs.

    Canadian County job market

  20. 20

    Ellis County TX

    +8.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    54,980
    Jobs added since 2022
    +4,438
    Population since 2020
    +24.0%

    Based on 54,980 jobs.

    Ellis County job market

  21. 21

    Coconino County AZ

    +8.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    52,025
    Jobs added since 2022
    +3,836
    Population since 2020
    −0.6%

    Based on 52,025 jobs.

    Coconino County job market

  22. 22

    San Juan County NM

    +8.0%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    36,426
    Jobs added since 2022
    +2,685
    Population since 2020
    −0.9%

    Based on 36,426 jobs.

    San Juan County job market

  23. 23

    Ector County TX

    +7.9%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    70,023
    Jobs added since 2022
    +5,100
    Population since 2020
    +5.0%

    Based on 70,023 jobs.

    Ector County job market

  24. 24

    Nueces County TX

    +7.8%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    138,165
    Jobs added since 2022
    +9,985
    Population since 2020
    −0.2%

    Based on 138,165 jobs.

    Nueces County job market

  25. 25

    Clark County NV

    +7.6%

    Private-sector jobs, 2025
    1,026,102
    Jobs added since 2022
    +72,432
    Population since 2020
    +5.8%

    Based on 1,026,102 jobs.

    Clark County job market

Full ranking

All 61 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Kaufman County TX+19.2%36,096
2Pinal County AZ+17.9%58,658
3Hays County TX+17.1%82,255
4Rockwall County TX+16.1%38,606
5Williamson County TX+14.8%209,472
6Johnson County TX+14.1%51,580
7Fort Bend County TX+13.3%213,954
8Guadalupe County TX+12.0%42,596
9Sandoval County NM+11.7%26,499
10Grayson County TX+11.4%44,880
11Midland County TX+11.4%109,487
12Hunt County TX+11.2%24,384
13Montgomery County TX+11.0%200,121
14Collin County TX+11.0%500,403
15Parker County TX+10.9%35,973
16Comal County TX+10.6%68,496
17Doña Ana County NM+10.2%62,617
18Denton County TX+9.0%273,432
19Canadian County OK+9.0%31,278
20Ellis County TX+8.8%54,980
21Coconino County AZ+8.0%52,025
22San Juan County NM+8.0%36,426
23Ector County TX+7.9%70,023
24Nueces County TX+7.8%138,165
25Clark County NV+7.6%1,026,102
26Jefferson County TX+7.5%108,041
27Hidalgo County TX+6.9%237,712
28El Paso County TX+6.7%269,435
29Webb County TX+6.5%85,254
30Smith County TX+6.4%100,020
31Brazos County TX+6.3%83,442
32Travis County TX+5.8%794,196
33Oklahoma County OK+5.8%418,194
34Randall County TX+5.6%31,798
35Brazoria County TX+5.5%103,025
36Maricopa County AZ+5.4%2,070,496
37Tarrant County TX+5.3%904,036
38Yavapai County AZ+5.2%59,857
39Galveston County TX+4.9%90,500
40Taylor County TX+4.7%57,907
41Harris County TX+4.5%2,173,259
42Bell County TX+4.1%99,582
43Tulsa County OK+3.6%336,573
44Cleveland County OK+3.6%69,775
45Washoe County NV+3.5%213,861
46Bexar County TX+3.4%780,620
47Cameron County TX+3.4%126,820
48Bernalillo County NM+2.9%283,044
49Lubbock County TX+2.8%119,614
50Tom Green County TX+2.5%41,092
51Potter County TX+2.2%64,602
52Cochise County AZ+1.9%24,238
53Gregg County TX+1.8%68,106
54Santa Fe County NM+1.7%46,510
55Mohave County AZ+1.7%47,644
56Pima County AZ+1.7%314,789
57McLennan County TX+1.4%104,410
58Dallas County TX+0.9%1,643,802
59Comanche County OK+0.5%27,305
60Yuma County AZ−0.7%55,955
61Wichita County TX−1.3%42,154

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 the southwest?
Kaufman County leads the Southwest for job growth: private-sector jobs are +19.2% since 2022, against +5.3% across all large counties.
How many counties are ranked?
61 counties have at least 20,000 jobs, so the list has 61 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.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Fastest-growing job markets in the Southwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-southwest

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/fastest-growing-job-markets-in-the-southwest">Fastest-growing job markets in the Southwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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