What is the unemployment rate in North Carolina right now?
Data updated November 17, 2024
About 3.7% in October 2024. That’s a 0.1 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.
Showing data for
In October 2024,
3.7%
of the labor force was unemployed in North Carolina
October 2024 had a
+0.1
percentage point change from October 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 October 2024, the unemployment rate in North Carolina was lower than the US overall.
Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to October 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 had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6%. Avery County had the lowest at 2.5%. Mecklenburg County, the county with the largest labor force in the state, had an unemployment rate of 3.1%. The latest county-level data is from September 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% |
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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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
