What is the unemployment rate in North Carolina right now?
Data updated November 8, 2024
About 3.8% in September 2024. That’s a 0.2 percentage point increase from the previous year. 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.
Showing data for
In September 2024,
3.8%
of the labor force was unemployed in North Carolina
September 2024 had a
+0.2
percentage point change from September 2023
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.
In September 2024, the unemployment rate in North Carolina was lower than the US overall.
Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to September 2024
Unemployment rates differ within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas or in 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.
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In North Carolina, Scotland County, NC had the highest unemployment rate at 7.8%. Dare County, NC had the lowest at 3.2%. Mecklenburg County, NC, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 4.1%. The latest county-level data was from July 2024.
Unemployment rates in North Carolina counties ranged from 2.5% to 5.6% in September 2024.
Not seasonally adjusted
Unemployment rate, by county in North Carolina (September 2024)
| 1. | Scotland County, NC | 5.6% |
| 2. | Edgecombe County, NC | 5.1% |
| 3. | Wilson County, NC | 5.1% |
| 4. | Warren County, NC | 5.0% |
| 5. | Vance County, NC | 4.9% |
| 6. | Halifax County, NC | 4.6% |
| 7. | Hertford County, NC | 4.6% |
| 8. | Robeson County, NC | 4.6% |
| 9. | Richmond County, NC | 4.5% |
| 10. | Bertie County, NC | 4.3% |
