Unemployment Rate in North Carolina

ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

Unemployment Rate
4.6% −12.7% vs nat'l
Rank #20 of 52
63th %ile

How North Carolina Compares

North Carolina
4.6%
National
5.3%
12.7% below

State Ranking

Rank State Value
#17 Indiana 4.3%
#18 Colorado 4.6%
#19 Hawaii 4.6%
#20 North Carolina 4.6%
#21 Tennessee 4.7%
#22 Alabama 4.7%
#23 Ohio 4.7%
View full state ranking →

Highest Unemployment Counties in North Carolina

# County Unemployment
1 Hyde County 2.5%
2 Clay County 2.6%
3 Transylvania County 2.8%
4 Macon County 2.8%
5 Tyrrell County 2.8%
6 Montgomery County 2.8%
7 Currituck County 2.9%
8 Chatham County 2.9%
9 Haywood County 3.1%
10 Stokes County 3.1%

Lowest Unemployment Counties in North Carolina

# County Unemployment
100 Washington County 12.9%
99 Scotland County 10.9%
98 Richmond County 9.7%
97 Halifax County 9.3%
96 Lenoir County 9.0%
95 Edgecombe County 8.7%
94 Vance County 8.2%
93 Northampton County 8.1%
92 Watauga County 7.9%
91 Pitt County 7.7%

Unemployment Rate in North Carolina

North Carolina has a unemployment rate of 4.6%, ranking #20 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 12.7% below the national value of 5.3%.

Across North Carolina's 100 counties, unemployment rate ranges from 12.9% to 2.5%. The county with the highest value is Hyde County at 2.5%.

Percentage of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

About this data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.