Woodson County

Unemployment in Woodson County has climbed to 6.0% in August—up 36.4% from its April low of 4.4%—marking three consecutive months of deterioration in the local job market. The reversal follows a brief spring stabilization and suggests renewed labor market softening in the 3,118-person county.

The downward employment trend is more pronounced over a longer view. From December 2025 through August 2026, unemployment has moved directionally upward three times since bottoming in April, climbing from 5.1% in May to the current 6.0%. This sustained movement across multiple data releases often signals structural shifts rather than seasonal noise. The county's peak unemployment reading of 6.2% occurred in January, meaning current conditions remain elevated by recent standards.

Home values have shown modest volatility in the same period, peaking at $117,711 in July before declining and partially recovering to $114,064 in September. The housing market lacks clear directional momentum and has not tracked the employment deterioration, suggesting economic weakness may be concentrated in labor markets rather than broad-based.

Story angle: Investigate whether specific employers in Woodson County have reduced hiring or laid off workers since spring, and whether residents are relocating for jobs in neighboring areas.