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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 bandy around the idea of a by 2023. The last economic recession鈥攖he Great Recession of 2008-2010鈥攕ent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was 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 , 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, compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina using data from the . Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 26,935 (899 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 11,413 (373 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 40,699 (1,332 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 65,436 (2,147 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 67,165 (2,194 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 28,066 (917 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 40,971 (1,374 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 186,510 (6,344 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 113,746 (3,851 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 26,528 (913 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 19,712 (684 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 10,826 (379 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 50,942 (1,802 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 9,757 (348 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 47,874 (1,745 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 5,914 (214 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 54,939 (2,052 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 88,467 (3,264 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 39,526 (1,479 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 5,598 (211 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 4,012 (151 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 260,797 (9,838 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 4,879 (187 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 25,998 (1,001 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 66,653 (2,590 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -0.5%
- Total labor force: 16,432 (645 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.2%
- Total labor force: 1,809 (72 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 22,799 (931 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.6%
- Total labor force: 8,525 (348 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -1.7%
- Total labor force: 10,095 (427 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 13,953 (590 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.7%
- Total labor force: 56,330 (2,356 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 7,274 (320 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 3,021 (134 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 7,079 (308 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 24,128 (1,082 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 8,459 (393 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.8%
- Total labor force: 1,373 (63 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 20,391 (972 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 4,315 (205 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.2%
- Total labor force: 128,303 (6,270 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -0.9%
- Total labor force: 41,462 (2,021 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 32,351 (1,657 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.8%
--- 1 year change: -1.5%
- Total labor force: 16,213 (843 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 47,527 (2,599 unemployed)
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#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)
--- 1 month change: -0.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.0%
- Total labor force: 18,905 (1,070 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.1%
- Total labor force: 16,515 (977 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.2%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 10,962 (716 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: -1.1%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 19,905 (1,350 unemployed)
#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)
--- 1 month change: +0.7%
--- 1 year change: +0.6%
- Total labor force: 6,632 (505 unemployed)
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