RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Highest unemployment, North Carolina counties · 2020

North Carolina counties ranked by the highest unemployment rate (2020 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll states All rankings

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 –

01Scotland County, NCNC33,32211.7%–

02Bertie County, NCNC17,08610.0%–

03Martin County, NCNC21,6019.9%–

04Gates County, NCNC10,2349.6%–

05Warren County, NCNC18,8989.0%–

06Lenoir County, NCNC55,8378.9%–

07Edgecombe County, NCNC49,1218.9%–

08Watauga County, NCNC54,7868.7%–

09Camden County, NCNC11,3158.7%–

10Wilson County, NCNC81,1508.6%–

11Jones County, NCNC9,5758.4%–

12Hertford County, NCNC19,0158.3%–

13Richmond County, NCNC42,0418.2%–

14Pitt County, NCNC182,9368.1%–

15Vance County, NCNC42,6388.0%–

16Onslow County, NCNC217,1758.0%–

17Hoke County, NCNC56,9397.9%–

18Northampton County, NCNC16,4917.8%–

19Cumberland County, NCNC338,4737.8%–

20Pender County, NCNC72,1117.5%–

21Anson County, NCNC21,7587.4%–

22Cleveland County, NCNC103,3257.4%–

23Yancey County, NCNC19,0847.4%–

24Robeson County, NCNC119,9417.4%–

25Washington County, NCNC10,6387.3%–

26Nash County, NCNC99,3657.2%–

27Rowan County, NCNC155,0967.0%–

28Beaufort County, NCNC44,6706.9%–

29Franklin County, NCNC82,0376.8%–

30Sampson County, NCNC61,5046.8%–

31Rutherford County, NCNC65,7456.7%–

32Pasquotank County, NCNC42,2016.7%–

33Burke County, NCNC88,6556.6%–

34Harnett County, NCNC150,1376.6%–

35Halifax County, NCNC46,5346.5%–

36Caldwell County, NCNC81,1056.5%–

37Rockingham County, NCNC94,1956.3%–

38Craven County, NCNC105,0256.1%–

39Person County, NCNC40,6366.1%–

40Swain County, NCNC14,0246.1%–

41Catawba County, NCNC170,1726.0%–

42Gaston County, NCNC246,5586.0%–

43Brunswick County, NCNC174,7026.0%–

44Duplin County, NCNC51,5715.9%–

45Guilford County, NCNC562,2345.9%–

46Jackson County, NCNC45,0395.8%–

47Caswell County, NCNC22,5635.8%–

48Alexander County, NCNC36,9585.8%–

49Columbus County, NCNC50,4875.7%–

50Avery County, NCNC18,1105.7%–

51McDowell County, NCNC45,1985.7%–

52Greene County, NCNC20,7005.6%–

53Lee County, NCNC70,2585.6%–

54Dare County, NCNC38,2455.6%–

55Davidson County, NCNC180,1825.5%–

56Wayne County, NCNC122,2785.4%–

57Transylvania County, NCNC34,2115.4%–

58Carteret County, NCNC70,4695.3%–

59Perquimans County, NCNC13,4905.3%–

60Chowan County, NCNC14,0825.3%–

61Wilkes County, NCNC66,2335.3%–

62Alamance County, NCNC186,1775.2%–

63Lincoln County, NCNC98,6545.2%–

64New Hanover County, NCNC245,9595.2%–

65Yadkin County, NCNC38,3255.1%–

66Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7255.0%–

67Forsyth County, NCNC401,7185.0%–

68Bladen County, NCNC30,0075.0%–

69Stanly County, NCNC68,8304.9%–

70Cherokee County, NCNC30,8304.9%–

71Macon County, NCNC39,2324.8%–

72Stokes County, NCNC46,1264.8%–

73Iredell County, NCNC211,7984.8%–

74Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3834.7%–

75Granville County, NCNC61,4214.7%–

76Durham County, NCNC347,2404.7%–

77Union County, NCNC267,6744.7%–

78Pamlico County, NCNC12,7584.6%–

79Moore County, NCNC110,6194.6%–

80Surry County, NCNC72,2874.6%–

81Hyde County, NCNC4,5544.5%–

82Randolph County, NCNC149,5164.5%–

83Mitchell County, NCNC15,0624.5%–

84Ashe County, NCNC27,5144.4%–

85Chatham County, NCNC85,1114.4%–

86Johnston County, NCNC256,4484.3%–

87Wake County, NCNC1,257,2354.2%–

88Haywood County, NCNC63,3694.1%–

89Davie County, NCNC45,8554.0%–

90Orange County, NCNC152,4984.0%–

91Tyrrell County, NCNC3,5374.0%–

92Polk County, NCNC20,5333.7%–

93Montgomery County, NCNC26,4033.5%–

94Clay County, NCNC12,2393.5%–

95Alleghany County, NCNC11,4793.4%–

96Madison County, NCNC22,5533.4%–

97Graham County, NCNC8,1903.4%–

98Currituck County, NCNC33,1583.3%–

99Buncombe County, NCNC277,4173.2%–

100Henderson County, NCNC122,3753.0%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS