Rising Unemployment Rates Across North Carolina Counties in June
In June 2025, unemployment rates across North Carolina saw a notable shift, with increases observed in 92 of the state’s counties. Meanwhile, four counties experienced a decrease, and another four saw no change in rates. Edgecombe County reported the highest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent, while Currituck County recorded the lowest at 3.1 percent. Notably, all 15 of the state’s metropolitan areas also experienced a rise in unemployment rates. Among these metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.3 percent, while Raleigh posted the lowest at 3.4 percent. The overall statewide unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, 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 the June figures to those from the same month in the previous year, 56 counties experienced an increase in unemployment rates, 22 saw a decrease, and rates remained unchanged in 22 counties. Additionally, over the past year, ten metropolitan areas reported rate increases, one saw a decrease, and four remained stable.
In terms of employment figures, the number of employed individuals in the state without seasonal adjustment rose in June by 10,334, reaching a total of 5,094,366. Concurrently, the number of unemployed individuals rose by 18,608, totaling 210,927. From June 2024 to June 2025, the number of employed workers decreased by 10,249, while the number of unemployed individuals increased by 6,452.
It’s crucial to highlight that employment estimates are significantly influenced by seasonal patterns. As such, it is recommended to focus on year-over-year changes when analyzing not seasonally adjusted estimates.
The next update on unemployment figures is set for release on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, when the statewide unemployment rate for July 2025 will be announced.
Supplementary Data
Editors are advised that supplementary data for this release is accessible via a live online dashboard. The attached PDF includes further charts and tables related to today’s data. For further inquiries, contact Commerce Communications.
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