RANKING · 2024 ACS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Highest unemployment, North Carolina counties

North Carolina counties ranked by the highest unemployment rate (2024 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost unemployed people Lowest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2020

01Washington County, NCNC10,63813.0%+78%

02Scotland County, NCNC33,32210.9%−7%

03Richmond County, NCNC42,0419.8%+19%

04Halifax County, NCNC46,5349.3%+43%

05Lenoir County, NCNC55,8379.0%+1%

06Edgecombe County, NCNC49,1218.7%−1%

07Vance County, NCNC42,6388.2%+3%

08Northampton County, NCNC16,4918.1%+3%

09Watauga County, NCNC54,7867.9%−10%

10Pitt County, NCNC182,9367.8%−4%

11Cumberland County, NCNC338,4737.6%−2%

12Swain County, NCNC14,0247.6%+26%

13Yancey County, NCNC19,0847.3%−1%

14Warren County, NCNC18,8987.2%−20%

15Graham County, NCNC8,1907.0%+108%

16Hoke County, NCNC56,9396.6%−16%

17Mitchell County, NCNC15,0626.5%+43%

18Rutherford County, NCNC65,7456.3%−6%

19Martin County, NCNC21,6016.1%−38%

20Hertford County, NCNC19,0156.0%−28%

21Robeson County, NCNC119,9416.0%−19%

22Dare County, NCNC38,2455.9%+6%

23Gates County, NCNC10,2345.9%−39%

24Pasquotank County, NCNC42,2015.9%−12%

25Rockingham County, NCNC94,1955.8%−9%

26Greene County, NCNC20,7005.7%+0%

27Wilson County, NCNC81,1505.6%−35%

28Person County, NCNC40,6365.6%−8%

29Anson County, NCNC21,7585.5%−26%

30Camden County, NCNC11,3155.5%−37%

31Bladen County, NCNC30,0075.4%+10%

32Onslow County, NCNC217,1755.4%−33%

33Duplin County, NCNC51,5715.3%−10%

34Rowan County, NCNC155,0965.3%−24%

35Yadkin County, NCNC38,3255.3%+4%

36Sampson County, NCNC61,5045.3%−22%

37Wayne County, NCNC122,2785.2%−4%

38Cleveland County, NCNC103,3255.2%−30%

39Caswell County, NCNC22,5635.2%−11%

40Pamlico County, NCNC12,7585.1%+10%

41Bertie County, NCNC17,0865.1%−49%

42Polk County, NCNC20,5335.1%+39%

43Alamance County, NCNC186,1775.1%−3%

44Forsyth County, NCNC401,7185.0%+2%

45Caldwell County, NCNC81,1055.0%−22%

46Alexander County, NCNC36,9585.0%−13%

47Wilkes County, NCNC66,2335.0%−5%

48Nash County, NCNC99,3654.9%−32%

49Jackson County, NCNC45,0394.9%−15%

50Avery County, NCNC18,1104.8%−15%

51Moore County, NCNC110,6194.8%+5%

52Pender County, NCNC72,1114.8%−36%

53Ashe County, NCNC27,5144.8%+8%

54Gaston County, NCNC246,5584.8%−21%

55Davie County, NCNC45,8554.7%+18%

56Harnett County, NCNC150,1374.7%−29%

57Brunswick County, NCNC174,7024.7%−22%

58Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7254.6%−7%

59Franklin County, NCNC82,0374.6%−32%

60Guilford County, NCNC562,2344.6%−22%

61Granville County, NCNC61,4214.6%−3%

62New Hanover County, NCNC245,9594.5%−13%

63Columbus County, NCNC50,4874.4%−23%

64Burke County, NCNC88,6554.4%−34%

65Surry County, NCNC72,2874.4%−5%

66Jones County, NCNC9,5754.4%−48%

67Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3834.3%−8%

68Buncombe County, NCNC277,4174.3%+36%

69Craven County, NCNC105,0254.2%−31%

70Union County, NCNC267,6744.2%−10%

71Iredell County, NCNC211,7984.2%−13%

72Chowan County, NCNC14,0824.1%−22%

73Davidson County, NCNC180,1824.1%−25%

74Wake County, NCNC1,257,2354.1%−3%

75McDowell County, NCNC45,1984.1%−28%

76Cherokee County, NCNC30,8304.1%−17%

77Stanly County, NCNC68,8304.1%−17%

78Carteret County, NCNC70,4694.0%−24%

79Beaufort County, NCNC44,6703.9%−43%

80Durham County, NCNC347,2403.9%−17%

81Lee County, NCNC70,2583.8%−32%

82Johnston County, NCNC256,4483.8%−11%

83Alleghany County, NCNC11,4793.7%+9%

84Catawba County, NCNC170,1723.7%−39%

85Orange County, NCNC152,4983.6%−10%

86Perquimans County, NCNC13,4903.6%−33%

87Randolph County, NCNC149,5163.5%−23%

88Henderson County, NCNC122,3753.5%+15%

89Lincoln County, NCNC98,6543.3%−36%

90Madison County, NCNC22,5533.1%−8%

91Stokes County, NCNC46,1263.1%−35%

92Haywood County, NCNC63,3693.1%−24%

93Currituck County, NCNC33,1583.0%−9%

94Chatham County, NCNC85,1112.9%−33%

95Montgomery County, NCNC26,4032.8%−19%

96Tyrrell County, NCNC3,5372.8%−29%

97Macon County, NCNC39,2322.8%−42%

98Transylvania County, NCNC34,2112.8%−49%

99Clay County, NCNC12,2392.6%−24%

100Hyde County, NCNC4,5542.5%−45%

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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