Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina

Written by:
November 15, 2022
Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in North Carolina

1 / 50
Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Lenoir County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 26,935 (899 unemployed)
2 / 50
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Montgomery County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 11,413 (373 unemployed)
3 / 50
KAD Photo // Shutterstock

#48. Moore County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 40,699 (1,332 unemployed)
4 / 50
Donald Lee Pardue // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Randolph County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 65,436 (2,147 unemployed)
5 / 50
AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Rowan County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 67,165 (2,194 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the most renters in North Carolina

6 / 50
State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Sampson County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 28,066 (917 unemployed)
7 / 50
Canva

#44. Craven County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 40,971 (1,374 unemployed)
8 / 50
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

#43. Forsyth County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 186,510 (6,344 unemployed)
9 / 50
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Gaston County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 113,746 (3,851 unemployed)
10 / 50
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Wilkes County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 26,528 (913 unemployed)

You may also like: Highest rated beer in North Carolina

11 / 50
David Byron Keener // Shutterstock

#40. Beaufort County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 19,712 (684 unemployed)
12 / 50
James R Poston // Shutterstock

#39. Cherokee County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 10,826 (379 unemployed)
13 / 50
Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Wayne County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 50,942 (1,802 unemployed)
14 / 50
NatalieMaynor from Jackson, Mississippi, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Caswell County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 9,757 (348 unemployed)
15 / 50
OptimumPx // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Cleveland County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 47,874 (1,745 unemployed)

You may also like: Most diverse counties in North Carolina

16 / 50
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Mitchell County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 5,914 (214 unemployed)
17 / 50
Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Harnett County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 54,939 (2,052 unemployed)
18 / 50
Nikola Spasic Photography // Shutterstock

#33. Pitt County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 88,467 (3,264 unemployed)
19 / 50
Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Rockingham County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 39,526 (1,479 unemployed)
20 / 50
Bethbrownebooks // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Chowan County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 5,598 (211 unemployed)

You may also like: See how low property taxes in North Carolina are

21 / 50
George Dukin // Shutterstock

#30. Clay County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 4,012 (151 unemployed)
22 / 50
Canva

#29. Guilford County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 260,797 (9,838 unemployed)
23 / 50
Susan C. Griffin // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Perquimans County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 4,879 (187 unemployed)
24 / 50
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Lee County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 25,998 (1,001 unemployed)
25 / 50
Anya Douglas // Shutterstock

#26. Onslow County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 66,653 (2,590 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in North Carolina

26 / 50
Canva

#25. Pasquotank County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 16,432 (645 unemployed)
27 / 50
Canva

#24. Hyde County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 1,809 (72 unemployed)
28 / 50
gerrydincher // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Columbus County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 22,799 (931 unemployed)
29 / 50
Alanteitleman // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Martin County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 8,525 (348 unemployed)
30 / 50
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Anson County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 10,095 (427 unemployed)

You may also like: Best places to raise a family in North Carolina

31 / 50
ncwetlands.org// Wikimedia Commons

#20. Bladen County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 13,953 (590 unemployed)
32 / 50
iofoto // Shutterstock

#19. Brunswick County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 56,330 (2,356 unemployed)
33 / 50
Theresaperry44 // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Bertie County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.4%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 7,274 (320 unemployed)
34 / 50
digidreamgrafix // Shutterstock

#17. Graham County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 3,021 (134 unemployed)
35 / 50
Indy beetle // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Northampton County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 7,079 (308 unemployed)

You may also like: 15.3 percent of households in North Carolina receive food stamps

36 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#15. Rutherford County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 24,128 (1,082 unemployed)
37 / 50
Boston Public Library // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Hertford County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 8,459 (393 unemployed)
38 / 50
HarmonyReignPope // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Tyrrell County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 1,373 (63 unemployed)
39 / 50
CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Hoke County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 20,391 (972 unemployed)
40 / 50
Ymblanter // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Washington County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 4,315 (205 unemployed)

You may also like: Counties with the highest COVID-19 death rate in North Carolina

41 / 50
Canva

#10. Cumberland County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 128,303 (6,270 unemployed)
42 / 50
BrendaByrneGreene // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Nash County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 41,462 (2,021 unemployed)
43 / 50
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Wilson County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.1%
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 32,351 (1,657 unemployed)
44 / 50
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Richmond County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 16,213 (843 unemployed)
45 / 50
Katangais // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Robeson County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.5%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 47,527 (2,599 unemployed)

You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in North Carolina

46 / 50
Cecouchman // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Halifax County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 18,905 (1,070 unemployed)
47 / 50
KimWrenn // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Vance County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.9%
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 16,515 (977 unemployed)
48 / 50
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Scotland County

- Current unemployment rate: 6.5%
--- 1 month change: -1.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 10,962 (716 unemployed)
49 / 50
State Archives of North Carolina // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Edgecombe County

- Current unemployment rate: 6.8%
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 19,905 (1,350 unemployed)
50 / 50
Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Warren County

- Current unemployment rate: 7.6%
--- 1 month change: +0.7%
--- 1 year change: +0.6%
- Total labor force: 6,632 (505 unemployed)

You may also like: The volatile busing strategy is born: A major civil rights moment in North Carolina

Trending Now