What is the unemployment rate in Union County, NC right now?
Updated Apr. 22, 2026Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Union County, NC was at 3.6% in January 2026. That's a 0.2 percentage point increase from a year before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In January 2026,
3.6%
of the labor force was unemployed in Union County, NC
January 2026 had a
+0.2
percentage point change from January 2025
County-level unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not account for fluctuations due to seasonal employment patterns, such as tourism or agriculture. That means the data may show large changes month to month. It is important to view this local data with a long-term lens.
The unemployment rate in Union County, NC was higher in January 2026 compared with January 2025.
Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to January 2026
Unemployment rates differ between areas within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas, or places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.
How does unemployment in Union County, NC compare to other counties?
The latest county-level data from January 2026 shows that Union County, NC's unemployment rate was ranked 86th out of 100 counties in North Carolina, from highest to lowest.
Unemployment rates in North Carolina counties ranged from 3.1% to 9.9% in January 2026.
Not seasonally adjusted
Unemployment rate, by county in North Carolina (January 2026)
| 1. | Hyde County, NC | 9.9% |
| 2. | Dare County, NC | 7.2% |
| 3. | Tyrrell County, NC | 7.1% |
| 4. | Edgecombe County, NC | 6.5% |
| 5. | Halifax County, NC | 6.1% |
| 6. | Robeson County, NC | 5.7% |
| 7. | Bladen County, NC | 5.6% |
| 8. | Northampton County, NC | 5.4% |
| 9. | Warren County, NC | 5.3% |
| 10. | Nash County, NC | 5.3% |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
