June 2026 Unemployment Rates Rise in 39 NC Counties, Fall in 16

Unemployment Trends in North Carolina Show Varied Changes Across Counties and Metro Areas

In June 2026, North Carolina experienced notable shifts in its unemployment landscape, with varying changes across its 100 counties. Unemployment rates, which are not seasonally adjusted, saw an increase in 39 counties, a decrease in 16, and no change in 45. Edgecombe County registered the highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent, whereas Currituck County enjoyed the lowest at 2.7 percent.

Examining the state’s metropolitan regions, seven areas witnessed an uptick in unemployment rates, while eight remained stable. The Rocky Mount metro area reported the highest unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, contrasting with Raleigh’s 3.1 percent, the lowest among the metro regions. The statewide unemployment rate, also not seasonally adjusted, stood at 3.5 percent.

Month	Counties with Rates 5% or Below	Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10%	Counties with Rates Above 10%
June	98	2	0
May (revised)	97	3	0

Year-over-year analysis reveals that, compared to June 2025, unemployment rates decreased in 96 counties, increased in two, and remained the same in another two. All fifteen metro areas reported a decline in unemployment rates over the past year.

In terms of employment figures, the number of employed workers across the state decreased by 12,914, bringing the total to 5,052,373. The unemployed population saw an increase of 1,581, reaching 185,010. Comparing these figures to June 2025, there was a significant reduction of 48,169 in employed workers and a decrease of 26,059 in the unemployed workforce.

It’s crucial to consider that employment estimates often follow substantial seasonal patterns. Therefore, focusing on the year-over-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted figures is recommended for a more accurate assessment.

The forthcoming update on unemployment figures is slated for Friday, August 21, 2026, when the unemployment rate for July 2026 will be disclosed.

Note to Editors: Supplemental data supporting this release is available through a live online dashboard. Additional charts and tables can be found in the PDF attached to this release. For more information, please contact Commerce Communications.