Unemployment Rates Shift in North Carolina Counties Amidst Economic Changes
In August 2026, North Carolina’s employment landscape witnessed notable shifts. Unemployment rates, which were not seasonally adjusted, showed a decline across 91 counties, while nine counties maintained their previous rates. Edgecombe County experienced the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent, contrasting with Currituck County, which reported the lowest at 2.7 percent.
Statewide, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.6 percent. Among the state’s metropolitan areas, twelve saw decreases in unemployment rates, whereas three remained steady. Rocky Mount led with the highest rate of 4.8 percent, while Asheville and Raleigh shared the lowest rate at 3.1 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| July (revised) | 95 | 5 | 0 |
Comparing the figures from August 2025 to the same month in 2026, unemployment rates fell in 99 counties, maintaining stability in one. All of North Carolina’s 15 metro areas recorded rate decreases over this period.
The workforce dynamics also shifted, with the number of employed individuals increasing by 32,219 to a total of 5,040,683. Concurrently, the number of unemployed individuals saw a reduction of 5,300, reaching 188,467. Over the past year, there was a decrease of 22,829 in the number of employed individuals and a decrease of 30,660 in those unemployed.
Given the significant seasonal patterns affecting employment estimates, focusing on annual changes in these not seasonally adjusted figures is advisable.
For the latest updates, the next report on unemployment figures is set for release on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, detailing the statewide unemployment rate for September 2026.
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