RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Highest labor force participation, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2023 ACS). This list covers the 174 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 2000

01Jacksonville, NCNC72,73278.4%–

02Knightdale, NCNC23,14477.8%–

03Havelock, NCNC17,43077.3%–

04Indian Trail, NCNC44,30375.0%–

05Apex, NCNC80,41974.6%–

06Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73174.1%–

07Cramerton, NCNC5,71374.1%–

08Morrisville, NCNC32,46673.7%–

09Moyock, NCNC5,68473.7%–

10Piney Green, NCNC14,07873.4%–

11East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32373.4%–

12Nashville, NCNC5,91173.3%–

13Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90872.6%–

14Murraysville, NCNC16,33972.4%–

15Holly Springs, NCNC50,28872.2%–

16Carrboro, NCNC20,96271.8%–

17Spout Springs, NCNC11,24271.8%–

18Charlotte, NCNC964,78471.8%–

19Wake Forest, NCNC58,14771.7%–

20Mount Holly, NCNC19,03371.5%–

21Stallings, NCNC17,76071.4%–

22Huntersville, NCNC68,53570.9%–

23Cary, NCNC183,58270.6%–

24Raleigh, NCNC506,30670.3%–

25Garner, NCNC41,56270.0%–

26Concord, NCNC114,59869.8%–

27Stokesdale, NCNC6,13369.6%–

28Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53669.1%–

29Durham, NCNC305,56169.0%–

30Waxhaw, NCNC23,14069.0%–

31Clayton, NCNC32,63368.7%–

32Gibsonville, NCNC9,87668.7%–

33Marvin, NCNC7,04068.6%–

34Spring Lake, NCNC11,25268.6%–

35Winterville, NCNC10,97368.5%–

36Unionville, NCNC7,32268.3%–

37Wendell, NCNC19,68768.3%–

38Mebane, NCNC21,95268.0%–

39Mooresville, NCNC55,84267.6%–

40St. Stephens, NCNC9,45767.6%–

41Harrisburg, NCNC20,74267.5%–

42Silver Lake, NCNC6,56367.1%–

43Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64967.0%–

44Northchase, NCNC5,89666.9%–

45Matthews, NCNC32,76966.8%–

46Rolesville, NCNC12,83966.7%–

47Statesville, NCNC32,18166.5%–

48Creedmoor, NCNC5,04666.5%–

49Lewisville, NCNC14,42166.3%–

50Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56666.2%–

51Fayetteville, NCNC209,12066.2%–

52Kings Grant, NCNC9,00365.9%–

53Kernersville, NCNC29,12865.9%–

54Half Moon, NCNC7,37865.7%–

55Pineville, NCNC11,85165.5%–

56Mocksville, NCNC6,28265.4%–

57Kannapolis, NCNC61,70865.3%–

58Greensboro, NCNC308,66765.2%–

59Mint Hill, NCNC29,47665.2%–

60Ogden, NCNC8,24965.2%–

61Summerfield, NCNC11,32765.1%–

62Dallas, NCNC6,39264.9%–

63Monroe, NCNC42,64464.9%–

64Belmont, NCNC16,41564.7%–

65Surf City, NCNC5,14264.6%–

66Midway, NCNC5,10464.6%–

67Cornelius, NCNC35,09464.5%–

68King, NCNC7,97764.4%–

69Aberdeen, NCNC10,06664.3%–

70Sanford, NCNC34,13864.3%–

71Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92764.3%–

72Gastonia, NCNC87,06764.3%–

73Hope Mills, NCNC18,32464.1%–

74Asheville, NCNC93,52364.0%–

75Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87063.9%–

76Weddington, NCNC14,51763.6%–

77Greenville, NCNC96,44363.6%–

78Hampstead, NCNC9,29263.5%–

79Davidson, NCNC16,66263.5%–

80Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49463.4%–

81Midland, NCNC5,15163.3%–

82Williamston, NCNC5,08663.1%–

83Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89663.0%–

84Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04963.0%–

85Burlington, NCNC61,49662.9%–

86High Point, NCNC120,57162.5%–

87Long View, NCNC5,38762.4%–

88Clemmons, NCNC22,80862.3%–

89Wilmington, NCNC126,80962.1%–

90Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63762.1%–

91Archdale, NCNC12,25461.8%–

92Hickory, NCNC45,97561.6%–

93Lincolnton, NCNC12,46561.3%–

94Locust, NCNC6,12061.3%–

95Selma, NCNC7,40661.0%–

96Siler City, NCNC8,15561.0%–

97Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27161.0%–

98Bessemer City, NCNC5,83460.5%–

99Mills River, NCNC7,50460.4%–

100Graham, NCNC20,13160.4%–

101Morehead City, NCNC10,43460.3%–

102Roxboro, NCNC8,38060.1%–

103Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28760.1%–

104Fletcher, NCNC8,37360.1%–

105Conover, NCNC8,93859.8%–

106Trinity, NCNC7,27459.4%–

107Thomasville, NCNC27,73359.4%–

108Wilson, NCNC49,57259.4%–

109Butner, NCNC8,11259.3%–

110Pittsboro, NCNC5,05459.3%–

111Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11759.2%–

112Walkertown, NCNC6,12059.1%–

113Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56559.0%–

114Albemarle, NCNC17,76958.9%–

115Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90658.9%–

116Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62258.8%–

117New Bern, NCNC34,72458.7%–

118Hillsborough, NCNC9,77858.7%–

119Ayden, NCNC5,26358.6%–

120Asheboro, NCNC27,99058.1%–

121Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50557.9%–

122Angier, NCNC9,41057.8%–

123Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87557.7%–

124Rockingham, NCNC8,81557.6%–

125Woodfin, NCNC8,22957.6%–

126Salisbury, NCNC36,87957.5%–

127Westport, NCNC5,91557.2%–

128Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12057.1%–

129Wadesboro, NCNC5,03557.0%–

130Forest City, NCNC7,41056.7%–

131Waynesville, NCNC11,00656.4%–

132Southern Pines, NCNC17,35756.3%–

133Goldsboro, NCNC35,01256.3%–

134Oxford, NCNC8,98556.1%–

135Porters Neck, NCNC7,65456.0%–

136Eden, NCNC15,50056.0%–

137Shelby, NCNC23,30955.9%–

138Hamlet, NCNC5,87055.9%–

139Newton, NCNC13,82255.5%–

140Leland, NCNC35,73155.3%–

141Zebulon, NCNC11,93354.8%–

142Boone, NCNC19,92954.8%–

143Henderson, NCNC15,01354.8%–

144Cherryville, NCNC6,52354.7%–

145Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16553.8%–

146Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38653.8%–

147Sawmills, NCNC5,10553.7%–

148Tarboro, NCNC10,97953.4%–

149Morganton, NCNC17,84953.2%–

150Lenoir, NCNC18,37252.9%–

151Mount Airy, NCNC10,68252.4%–

152Lexington, NCNC20,23852.2%–

153Kinston, NCNC19,70552.2%–

154Smithfield, NCNC13,11452.1%–

155Hendersonville, NCNC15,86751.9%–

156Dunn, NCNC8,81451.8%–

157Swannanoa, NCNC6,90151.7%–

158Laurinburg, NCNC14,58251.5%–

159Etowah, NCNC7,96851.1%–

160Washington, NCNC9,91051.0%–

161Brevard, NCNC8,09850.8%–

162Oak Island, NCNC9,33750.4%–

163Lumberton, NCNC18,95549.6%–

164Reidsville, NCNC14,69249.6%–

165Cullowhee, NCNC7,97348.7%–

166Shallotte, NCNC5,33548.6%–

167Clinton, NCNC8,46648.3%–

168Black Mountain, NCNC8,49144.5%–

169Marion, NCNC7,44043.9%–

170Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.1%–

171Elon, NCNC11,36638.1%–

172Lillington, NCNC5,04037.9%–

173Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54030.8%–

174St. James, NCNC7,31823.9%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES