Rising Unemployment Rates in Majority of North Carolina Counties for June 2026
In a recent update on employment statistics, North Carolina experienced a mixed bag of changes in unemployment rates across its counties in June 2026. While 39 counties saw an increase in unemployment rates, 16 counties witnessed a decrease, and 45 counties showed no change. Edgecombe County reported the highest unemployment rate at 5.3%, in stark contrast to Currituck County’s lowest rate of 2.7%.
Analyzing the state’s metropolitan areas, seven faced increased unemployment rates, while rates remained steady in eight. Rocky Mount stood out with the highest metro area unemployment rate at 4.7%, while Raleigh boasted the lowest at 3.1%. Overall, the not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate was determined to be 3.5%.
| 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 comparisons reveal a more positive trend, with unemployment rates decreasing in 96 counties, increasing in two, and remaining stable in two. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced a decrease in their rates compared to the previous year.
Looking at the workforce numbers statewide, there was a decrease of 12,914 employed workers, bringing the total to 5,052,373. Conversely, the number of unemployed individuals rose by 1,581, reaching 185,010. Since June 2025, the employed workforce has decreased by 48,169, although there was a drop in the number of unemployed by 26,059.
It’s crucial to consider that employment estimates can be heavily influenced by seasonal patterns, making year-over-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted figures more significant for analysis.
The next update on unemployment statistics is due on Friday, August 21, 2026, where data for the statewide unemployment rate for July 2026 will be disclosed.
Additional Resources
Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is now available via a live online dashboard. The PDF attached to this release includes further charts and tables for today’s data. For more information, please contact Commerce Communications.
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