RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Lowest labor force participation, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2023 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 2000

01St. James, NCNC7,31822.3%–

02Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54040.7%–

03Elon, NCNC11,36642.3%–

04Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.1%–

05Oak Island, NCNC9,33744.1%–

06Brevard, NCNC8,09844.3%–

07Marion, NCNC7,44045.2%–

08Clinton, NCNC8,46648.7%–

09Black Mountain, NCNC8,49148.8%–

10Oxford, NCNC8,98549.0%–

11Swannanoa, NCNC6,90149.7%–

12Lumberton, NCNC18,95550.5%–

13Mount Airy, NCNC10,68251.0%–

14Porters Neck, NCNC7,65451.0%–

15Lillington, NCNC5,04051.2%–

16Reidsville, NCNC14,69251.8%–

17Smithfield, NCNC13,11452.0%–

18Kinston, NCNC19,70552.0%–

19Laurinburg, NCNC14,58252.2%–

20Hendersonville, NCNC15,86752.2%–

21Tarboro, NCNC10,97952.4%–

22Forest City, NCNC7,41052.6%–

23Lenoir, NCNC18,37252.7%–

24Locust, NCNC6,12053.0%–

25King, NCNC7,97753.5%–

26Roxboro, NCNC8,38053.5%–

27Dunn, NCNC8,81453.6%–

28Boone, NCNC19,92953.9%–

29Cherryville, NCNC6,52354.4%–

30Rockingham, NCNC8,81554.5%–

31Conover, NCNC8,93854.8%–

32Lexington, NCNC20,23854.9%–

33Salisbury, NCNC36,87955.2%–

34Stokesdale, NCNC6,13355.3%–

35Shelby, NCNC23,30955.5%–

36Washington, NCNC9,91055.5%–

37Etowah, NCNC7,96855.7%–

38Woodfin, NCNC8,22956.2%–

39Albemarle, NCNC17,76956.2%–

40Ayden, NCNC5,26356.3%–

41Morganton, NCNC17,84956.4%–

42Butner, NCNC8,11256.8%–

43Newton, NCNC13,82256.9%–

44Eden, NCNC15,50056.9%–

45Goldsboro, NCNC35,01257.1%–

46Leland, NCNC35,73157.5%–

47Waynesville, NCNC11,00657.8%–

48Angier, NCNC9,41058.1%–

49Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56558.1%–

50Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.1%–

51Creedmoor, NCNC5,04658.2%–

52Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38658.3%–

53Southern Pines, NCNC17,35758.6%–

54Wilson, NCNC49,57258.6%–

55Lincolnton, NCNC12,46558.7%–

56Shallotte, NCNC5,33558.8%–

57Wadesboro, NCNC5,03558.8%–

58Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49458.9%–

59Hickory, NCNC45,97559.2%–

60Westport, NCNC5,91559.2%–

61Henderson, NCNC15,01359.3%–

62Davidson, NCNC16,66259.3%–

63Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87559.3%–

64St. Stephens, NCNC9,45759.3%–

65Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12059.4%–

66Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62259.6%–

67New Bern, NCNC34,72459.7%–

68Spout Springs, NCNC11,24260.0%–

69Archdale, NCNC12,25460.0%–

70Morehead City, NCNC10,43460.0%–

71Asheboro, NCNC27,99060.3%–

72Hamlet, NCNC5,87060.5%–

73Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50560.6%–

74Selma, NCNC7,40660.6%–

75Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90660.6%–

76Hope Mills, NCNC18,32461.0%–

77Thomasville, NCNC27,73361.1%–

78Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64961.2%–

79Midway, NCNC5,10461.3%–

80Williamston, NCNC5,08661.4%–

81Mocksville, NCNC6,28261.4%–

82Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27161.5%–

83Sanford, NCNC34,13861.5%–

84Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11761.8%–

85Asheville, NCNC93,52362.0%–

86High Point, NCNC120,57162.4%–

87Siler City, NCNC8,15562.6%–

88Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87062.7%–

89Walkertown, NCNC6,12062.7%–

90Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92763.0%–

91Trinity, NCNC7,27463.3%–

92Bessemer City, NCNC5,83463.3%–

93Fletcher, NCNC8,37363.6%–

94Nashville, NCNC5,91163.6%–

95Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63763.8%–

96Graham, NCNC20,13163.8%–

97Burlington, NCNC61,49663.8%–

98Hampstead, NCNC9,29263.9%–

99Belmont, NCNC16,41564.0%–

100Long View, NCNC5,38764.1%–

101Greenville, NCNC96,44364.2%–

102Pittsboro, NCNC5,05464.2%–

103Monroe, NCNC42,64464.2%–

104Mills River, NCNC7,50464.4%–

105Gibsonville, NCNC9,87664.7%–

106Statesville, NCNC32,18164.7%–

107Summerfield, NCNC11,32764.7%–

108East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32364.7%–

109Weddington, NCNC14,51764.9%–

110Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16565.0%–

111Sawmills, NCNC5,10565.1%–

112Hillsborough, NCNC9,77865.2%–

113Greensboro, NCNC308,66765.2%–

114Kernersville, NCNC29,12865.4%–

115Half Moon, NCNC7,37865.4%–

116Cornelius, NCNC35,09465.5%–

117Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89665.7%–

118Gastonia, NCNC87,06765.7%–

119Marvin, NCNC7,04065.7%–

120Ogden, NCNC8,24965.8%–

121Garner, NCNC41,56265.8%–

122Matthews, NCNC32,76966.1%–

123Silver Lake, NCNC6,56366.2%–

124Barbecue, NCNC5,91066.3%–

125Mint Hill, NCNC29,47666.4%–

126Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53666.4%–

127Surf City, NCNC5,14266.4%–

128Wilmington, NCNC126,80966.6%–

129Fayetteville, NCNC209,12066.7%–

130Zebulon, NCNC11,93366.7%–

131Clemmons, NCNC22,80867.0%–

132Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04967.1%–

133Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56667.2%–

134Kings Grant, NCNC9,00367.3%–

135Kannapolis, NCNC61,70867.5%–

136Lewisville, NCNC14,42167.8%–

137Aberdeen, NCNC10,06667.9%–

138Piney Green, NCNC14,07868.1%–

139Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73169.0%–

140Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28769.1%–

141Midland, NCNC5,15169.1%–

142Cary, NCNC183,58269.1%–

143Spring Lake, NCNC11,25269.2%–

144Durham, NCNC305,56169.2%–

145Mebane, NCNC21,95269.3%–

146Waxhaw, NCNC23,14069.4%–

147Harrisburg, NCNC20,74269.4%–

148Mount Holly, NCNC19,03369.6%–

149Winterville, NCNC10,97369.8%–

150Dallas, NCNC6,39269.8%–

151Rolesville, NCNC12,83969.8%–

152Wake Forest, NCNC58,14770.0%–

153Mooresville, NCNC55,84270.2%–

154Cramerton, NCNC5,71370.6%–

155Raleigh, NCNC506,30670.9%–

156Concord, NCNC114,59870.9%–

157Northchase, NCNC5,89671.8%–

158Pineville, NCNC11,85171.9%–

159Holly Springs, NCNC50,28872.0%–

160Carrboro, NCNC20,96272.4%–

161Charlotte, NCNC964,78472.6%–

162Apex, NCNC80,41973.0%–

163Stallings, NCNC17,76073.2%–

164Unionville, NCNC7,32273.3%–

165Clayton, NCNC32,63373.4%–

166Wendell, NCNC19,68773.6%–

167Huntersville, NCNC68,53573.8%–

168Moyock, NCNC5,68475.4%–

169Morrisville, NCNC32,46675.5%–

170Murraysville, NCNC16,33975.8%–

171Indian Trail, NCNC44,30376.0%–

172Havelock, NCNC17,43076.0%–

173Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90876.7%–

174Jacksonville, NCNC72,73277.5%–

175Knightdale, NCNC23,14477.8%–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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