RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Highest labor force participation, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2024 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2020

01Knightdale, NCNC23,14477.8%−0%

02Jacksonville, NCNC72,73277.5%−1%

03Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90876.7%+6%

04Havelock, NCNC17,43076.0%−2%

05Indian Trail, NCNC44,30376.0%+1%

06Murraysville, NCNC16,33975.8%+5%

07Morrisville, NCNC32,46675.5%+2%

08Moyock, NCNC5,68475.4%+2%

09Huntersville, NCNC68,53573.8%+4%

10Wendell, NCNC19,68773.6%+8%

11Clayton, NCNC32,63373.4%+7%

12Unionville, NCNC7,32273.3%+7%

13Stallings, NCNC17,76073.2%+3%

14Apex, NCNC80,41973.0%−2%

15Charlotte, NCNC964,78472.6%+1%

16Carrboro, NCNC20,96272.4%+1%

17Holly Springs, NCNC50,28872.0%−0%

18Pineville, NCNC11,85171.9%+10%

19Northchase, NCNC5,89671.8%+7%

20Concord, NCNC114,59870.9%+2%

21Raleigh, NCNC506,30670.9%+1%

22Cramerton, NCNC5,71370.6%−5%

23Mooresville, NCNC55,84270.2%+4%

24Wake Forest, NCNC58,14770.0%−2%

25Rolesville, NCNC12,83969.8%+5%

26Dallas, NCNC6,39269.8%+7%

27Winterville, NCNC10,97369.8%+2%

28Mount Holly, NCNC19,03369.6%−3%

29Harrisburg, NCNC20,74269.4%+3%

30Waxhaw, NCNC23,14069.4%+1%

31Mebane, NCNC21,95269.3%+2%

32Durham, NCNC305,56169.2%+0%

33Spring Lake, NCNC11,25269.2%+1%

34Cary, NCNC183,58269.1%−2%

35Midland, NCNC5,15169.1%+9%

36Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28769.1%+15%

37Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73169.0%−7%

38Piney Green, NCNC14,07868.1%−7%

39Aberdeen, NCNC10,06667.9%+6%

40Lewisville, NCNC14,42167.8%+2%

41Kannapolis, NCNC61,70867.5%+3%

42Kings Grant, NCNC9,00367.3%+2%

43Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56667.2%+1%

44Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04967.1%+7%

45Clemmons, NCNC22,80867.0%+7%

46Zebulon, NCNC11,93366.7%+22%

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,12066.7%+1%

48Wilmington, NCNC126,80966.6%+7%

49Surf City, NCNC5,14266.4%+3%

50Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53666.4%−4%

51Mint Hill, NCNC29,47666.4%+2%

52Barbecue, NCNC5,91066.3%–

53Silver Lake, NCNC6,56366.2%−1%

54Matthews, NCNC32,76966.1%−1%

55Garner, NCNC41,56265.8%−6%

56Ogden, NCNC8,24965.8%+1%

57Marvin, NCNC7,04065.7%−4%

58Gastonia, NCNC87,06765.7%+2%

59Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89665.7%+4%

60Cornelius, NCNC35,09465.5%+2%

61Half Moon, NCNC7,37865.4%−0%

62Kernersville, NCNC29,12865.4%−1%

63Greensboro, NCNC308,66765.2%+0%

64Hillsborough, NCNC9,77865.2%+11%

65Sawmills, NCNC5,10565.1%+21%

66Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16565.0%+21%

67Weddington, NCNC14,51764.9%+2%

68East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32364.7%−12%

69Summerfield, NCNC11,32764.7%−1%

70Statesville, NCNC32,18164.7%−3%

71Gibsonville, NCNC9,87664.7%−6%

72Mills River, NCNC7,50464.4%+7%

73Monroe, NCNC42,64464.2%−1%

74Pittsboro, NCNC5,05464.2%+8%

75Greenville, NCNC96,44364.2%+1%

76Long View, NCNC5,38764.1%+3%

77Belmont, NCNC16,41564.0%−1%

78Hampstead, NCNC9,29263.9%+1%

79Burlington, NCNC61,49663.8%+1%

80Graham, NCNC20,13163.8%+6%

81Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63763.8%+3%

82Nashville, NCNC5,91163.6%−13%

83Fletcher, NCNC8,37363.6%+6%

84Bessemer City, NCNC5,83463.3%+5%

85Trinity, NCNC7,27463.3%+7%

86Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92763.0%−2%

87Walkertown, NCNC6,12062.7%+6%

88Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87062.7%−2%

89Siler City, NCNC8,15562.6%+3%

90High Point, NCNC120,57162.4%−0%

91Asheville, NCNC93,52362.0%−3%

92Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11761.8%+4%

93Sanford, NCNC34,13861.5%−4%

94Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27161.5%+1%

95Mocksville, NCNC6,28261.4%−6%

96Williamston, NCNC5,08661.4%−3%

97Midway, NCNC5,10461.3%−5%

98Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64961.2%−9%

99Thomasville, NCNC27,73361.1%+3%

100Hope Mills, NCNC18,32461.0%−5%

101Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90660.6%+3%

102Selma, NCNC7,40660.6%−1%

103Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50560.6%+5%

104Hamlet, NCNC5,87060.5%+8%

105Asheboro, NCNC27,99060.3%+4%

106Morehead City, NCNC10,43460.0%−1%

107Archdale, NCNC12,25460.0%−3%

108Spout Springs, NCNC11,24260.0%−16%

109New Bern, NCNC34,72459.7%+2%

110Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62259.6%+1%

111Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12059.4%+4%

112St. Stephens, NCNC9,45759.3%−12%

113Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87559.3%+3%

114Davidson, NCNC16,66259.3%−7%

115Henderson, NCNC15,01359.3%+8%

116Westport, NCNC5,91559.2%+3%

117Hickory, NCNC45,97559.2%−4%

118Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49458.9%−7%

119Wadesboro, NCNC5,03558.8%+3%

120Shallotte, NCNC5,33558.8%+21%

121Lincolnton, NCNC12,46558.7%−4%

122Wilson, NCNC49,57258.6%−1%

123Southern Pines, NCNC17,35758.6%+4%

124Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38658.3%+8%

125Creedmoor, NCNC5,04658.2%−13%

126Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.1%+19%

127Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56558.1%−2%

128Angier, NCNC9,41058.1%+0%

129Waynesville, NCNC11,00657.8%+3%

130Leland, NCNC35,73157.5%+4%

131Goldsboro, NCNC35,01257.1%+1%

132Eden, NCNC15,50056.9%+2%

133Newton, NCNC13,82256.9%+3%

134Butner, NCNC8,11256.8%−4%

135Morganton, NCNC17,84956.4%+6%

136Ayden, NCNC5,26356.3%−4%

137Albemarle, NCNC17,76956.2%−5%

138Woodfin, NCNC8,22956.2%−2%

139Etowah, NCNC7,96855.7%+9%

140Washington, NCNC9,91055.5%+9%

141Shelby, NCNC23,30955.5%−1%

142Stokesdale, NCNC6,13355.3%−20%

143Salisbury, NCNC36,87955.2%−4%

144Lexington, NCNC20,23854.9%+5%

145Conover, NCNC8,93854.8%−8%

146Rockingham, NCNC8,81554.5%−5%

147Cherryville, NCNC6,52354.4%−1%

148Boone, NCNC19,92953.9%−2%

149Dunn, NCNC8,81453.6%+3%

150Roxboro, NCNC8,38053.5%−11%

151King, NCNC7,97753.5%−17%

152Locust, NCNC6,12053.0%−14%

153Lenoir, NCNC18,37252.7%−0%

154Forest City, NCNC7,41052.6%−7%

155Tarboro, NCNC10,97952.4%−2%

156Hendersonville, NCNC15,86752.2%+0%

157Laurinburg, NCNC14,58252.2%+1%

158Kinston, NCNC19,70552.0%−1%

159Smithfield, NCNC13,11452.0%−0%

160Reidsville, NCNC14,69251.8%+4%

161Lillington, NCNC5,04051.2%+35%

162Porters Neck, NCNC7,65451.0%−9%

163Mount Airy, NCNC10,68251.0%−3%

164Lumberton, NCNC18,95550.5%+2%

165Swannanoa, NCNC6,90149.7%−4%

166Oxford, NCNC8,98549.0%−13%

167Black Mountain, NCNC8,49148.8%+10%

168Clinton, NCNC8,46648.7%+1%

169Marion, NCNC7,44045.2%+3%

170Brevard, NCNC8,09844.3%−13%

171Oak Island, NCNC9,33744.1%−13%

172Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.1%+0%

173Elon, NCNC11,36642.3%+11%

174Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54040.7%+32%

175St. James, NCNC7,31822.3%−7%

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES