Unemployment Trends Shift Across North Carolina Counties in May 2026
In a recent analysis of unemployment trends across North Carolina, the month of May 2026 revealed varied changes in joblessness rates among the state’s counties and metro areas. The data, which is not seasonally adjusted, showed a rise in unemployment rates in 70 counties, a decline in five, while the remaining 25 counties experienced no change.
Hyde and Edgecombe Counties recorded the highest unemployment rates at 5.2 percent. In contrast, Currituck County reported the lowest rate, standing at 2.7 percent. Within the state’s metro areas, 13 saw an increase in unemployment rates, while two remained stable. The Rocky Mount metro area had the highest unemployment rate among metro regions at 4.7 percent, whereas Raleigh boasted the lowest at 3.0 percent. Across the state, the overall not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| April (revised) | 98 | 2 | 0 |
Looking at changes compared to May of the previous year, unemployment rates fell in 89 counties, rose in four, and remained constant in seven. All fifteen metro areas reported a decrease in unemployment rates over the year.
Statewide employment figures also shifted, with the number of employed individuals decreasing by 16,577 to 5,065,683, and the number of unemployed increasing by 3,227 to 183,720 in May. Compared to May 2025, there was a reduction of 35,878 in employed workers, while the number of unemployed decreased by 13,930.
Experts suggest focusing on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates due to significant seasonal employment trends. The next update on unemployment figures is expected on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, offering insights into the statewide unemployment rate for June 2026.
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