RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,135
Lowest labor force participation, US counties · 2020
US counties with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2020 ACS). Forest County, Pennsylvania leads at 21.5%. 3,135 counties qualify in total. Georgia carries 4 of the top 25 entries.
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RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS –
USUnited States331,449,28163.4%–
UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which county has the lowest labor force participation?
Forest County, Pennsylvania ranks #1 with 21.5% (2020 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 counties by labor force participation?
Forest County, Pennsylvania, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, Sumter County, Florida, Issaquena County, Mississippi, Catron County, New Mexico.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,135 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.
How is labor force participation measured?
Share of residents 16+ in the labor force. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.