Unemployment Rates Rise Across Most of North Carolina in June 2025
In a notable shift for the state, unemployment rates rose in 92 of North Carolina’s counties during June 2025, while only four counties saw a decrease, and another four remained stable. Edgecombe County emerged with the highest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, contrasting sharply with Currituck County, which boasted the lowest rate at 3.1 percent. Every metro area in the state reported increased unemployment rates, with Rocky Mount leading at 5.3 percent, while Raleigh recorded the lowest metro rate at 3.4 percent. Statewide, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.0 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 89 | 11 | 0 |
| May (revised) | 98 | 2 | 0 |
Comparing year-over-year data, 56 counties saw an increase in unemployment rates, whereas 22 experienced a decrease, and another 22 showed no change. In terms of metro areas, ten reported annual rate increases, one saw a decrease, and four remained constant. The workforce dynamics shifted slightly in June as the number of employed individuals rose by 10,334 to a total of 5,094,366. However, this was accompanied by an increase in the unemployed population by 18,608, reaching 210,927. Over the past year, there has been a reduction of 10,249 in the employed workforce, with a simultaneous increase of 6,452 in the unemployed count.
Given the significant seasonal variations in employment data, it is recommended to focus on changes over the year rather than month-to-month fluctuations. The upcoming update on unemployment figures is scheduled for release on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, providing insights into the statewide unemployment rate for July 2025.
Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is now available via a live online dashboard. The PDF attached to this release does contain additional charts and tables for today’s data. Contact Commerce Communications for further information.
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