Counties with the highest unemployment in North Carolina

In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in North Carolina using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS. 

In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses. 

The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in North Carolina.

#25. Martin County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,623 people (363 unemployed)

#24. Hoke County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,578 people (857 unemployed)

#23. Brunswick County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 59,071 people (2,486 unemployed)

#22. Nash County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 41,674 people (1,807 unemployed)

#21. Northampton County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,197 people (317 unemployed)

#20. Cumberland County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 130,108 people (5,741 unemployed)

#19. Hertford County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,157 people (366 unemployed)

#18. Bertie County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,726 people (311 unemployed)

#17. Henderson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 55,126 people (2,531 unemployed)

#16. Richmond County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,233 people (810 unemployed)

#15. Robeson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 47,604 people (2,240 unemployed)

#14. Haywood County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 30,072 people (1,433 unemployed)

#13. Vance County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,627 people (811 unemployed)

#12. Halifax County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,149 people (933 unemployed)

#11. Wilson County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 33,837 people (1,689 unemployed)

#10. Edgecombe County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,772 people (1,030 unemployed)

#9. Warren County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,129 people (332 unemployed)

#8. McDowell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,269 people (1,092 unemployed)

#7. Rutherford County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,116 people (1,338 unemployed)

#6. Scotland County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,122 people (658 unemployed)

#5. Avery County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 4.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,205 people (536 unemployed)

#4. Yancey County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 4.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,598 people (606 unemployed)

#3. Mitchell County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 4.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 3.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,530 people (491 unemployed)

#2. Madison County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 4.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 4.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,299 people (769 unemployed)

#1. Buncombe County

- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 6.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 6.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 147,993 people (13,003 unemployed)

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.