Employment figures from November 2018 to November 2019 compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show rural counties located farthest from large urban centers had the slowest job growth rate. Rural counties located adjacent to metropolitan areas showed stronger growth, but still half the growth rate of counties located in metro areas.

While most counties added jobs during this period, growth was uneven. Metro areas made up the top 319 counties in total job growth. Cities such as Phoenix and Seattle added tens of thousands of jobs, while the rural county with the largest job growth, Duplin County in North Carolina, reported just 1,631 jobs added.

On average, rural counties nationwide reported growth. Individually, 37 percent of rural counties had lost jobs, compared to 19 percent of metro counties.

Read the full story from the Daily Yonder here: https://www.dailyyonder.com/two-thirds-of-rural-counties-gain-jobs-from-november-2018-to-2019/2020/01/09/