RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Lowest labor force participation, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the smallest 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.

Flip the list · Highest labor force participation, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2000

01St. James, NCNC7,31823.9%–

02Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54030.8%–

03Lillington, NCNC5,04037.9%–

04Elon, NCNC11,36638.1%–

05Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.1%–

06Marion, NCNC7,44043.9%–

07Black Mountain, NCNC8,49144.5%–

08Clinton, NCNC8,46648.3%–

09Shallotte, NCNC5,33548.6%–

10Cullowhee, NCNC7,97348.7%–

11Reidsville, NCNC14,69249.6%–

12Lumberton, NCNC18,95549.6%–

13Oak Island, NCNC9,33750.4%–

14Brevard, NCNC8,09850.8%–

15Washington, NCNC9,91051.0%–

16Etowah, NCNC7,96851.1%–

17Laurinburg, NCNC14,58251.5%–

18Swannanoa, NCNC6,90151.7%–

19Dunn, NCNC8,81451.8%–

20Hendersonville, NCNC15,86751.9%–

21Smithfield, NCNC13,11452.1%–

22Kinston, NCNC19,70552.2%–

23Lexington, NCNC20,23852.2%–

24Mount Airy, NCNC10,68252.4%–

25Lenoir, NCNC18,37252.9%–

26Morganton, NCNC17,84953.2%–

27Tarboro, NCNC10,97953.4%–

28Sawmills, NCNC5,10553.7%–

29Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38653.8%–

30Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16553.8%–

31Cherryville, NCNC6,52354.7%–

32Henderson, NCNC15,01354.8%–

33Boone, NCNC19,92954.8%–

34Zebulon, NCNC11,93354.8%–

35Leland, NCNC35,73155.3%–

36Newton, NCNC13,82255.5%–

37Hamlet, NCNC5,87055.9%–

38Shelby, NCNC23,30955.9%–

39Eden, NCNC15,50056.0%–

40Porters Neck, NCNC7,65456.0%–

41Oxford, NCNC8,98556.1%–

42Goldsboro, NCNC35,01256.3%–

43Southern Pines, NCNC17,35756.3%–

44Waynesville, NCNC11,00656.4%–

45Forest City, NCNC7,41056.7%–

46Wadesboro, NCNC5,03557.0%–

47Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12057.1%–

48Westport, NCNC5,91557.2%–

49Salisbury, NCNC36,87957.5%–

50Woodfin, NCNC8,22957.6%–

51Rockingham, NCNC8,81557.6%–

52Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87557.7%–

53Angier, NCNC9,41057.8%–

54Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50557.9%–

55Asheboro, NCNC27,99058.1%–

56Ayden, NCNC5,26358.6%–

57Hillsborough, NCNC9,77858.7%–

58New Bern, NCNC34,72458.7%–

59Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62258.8%–

60Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90658.9%–

61Albemarle, NCNC17,76958.9%–

62Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56559.0%–

63Walkertown, NCNC6,12059.1%–

64Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11759.2%–

65Pittsboro, NCNC5,05459.3%–

66Butner, NCNC8,11259.3%–

67Wilson, NCNC49,57259.4%–

68Thomasville, NCNC27,73359.4%–

69Trinity, NCNC7,27459.4%–

70Conover, NCNC8,93859.8%–

71Fletcher, NCNC8,37360.1%–

72Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28760.1%–

73Roxboro, NCNC8,38060.1%–

74Morehead City, NCNC10,43460.3%–

75Graham, NCNC20,13160.4%–

76Mills River, NCNC7,50460.4%–

77Bessemer City, NCNC5,83460.5%–

78Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27161.0%–

79Siler City, NCNC8,15561.0%–

80Selma, NCNC7,40661.0%–

81Locust, NCNC6,12061.3%–

82Lincolnton, NCNC12,46561.3%–

83Hickory, NCNC45,97561.6%–

84Archdale, NCNC12,25461.8%–

85Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63762.1%–

86Wilmington, NCNC126,80962.1%–

87Clemmons, NCNC22,80862.3%–

88Long View, NCNC5,38762.4%–

89High Point, NCNC120,57162.5%–

90Burlington, NCNC61,49662.9%–

91Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04963.0%–

92Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89663.0%–

93Williamston, NCNC5,08663.1%–

94Midland, NCNC5,15163.3%–

95Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49463.4%–

96Davidson, NCNC16,66263.5%–

97Hampstead, NCNC9,29263.5%–

98Greenville, NCNC96,44363.6%–

99Weddington, NCNC14,51763.6%–

100Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87063.9%–

101Asheville, NCNC93,52364.0%–

102Hope Mills, NCNC18,32464.1%–

103Gastonia, NCNC87,06764.3%–

104Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92764.3%–

105Sanford, NCNC34,13864.3%–

106Aberdeen, NCNC10,06664.3%–

107King, NCNC7,97764.4%–

108Cornelius, NCNC35,09464.5%–

109Midway, NCNC5,10464.6%–

110Surf City, NCNC5,14264.6%–

111Belmont, NCNC16,41564.7%–

112Monroe, NCNC42,64464.9%–

113Dallas, NCNC6,39264.9%–

114Summerfield, NCNC11,32765.1%–

115Ogden, NCNC8,24965.2%–

116Mint Hill, NCNC29,47665.2%–

117Greensboro, NCNC308,66765.2%–

118Kannapolis, NCNC61,70865.3%–

119Mocksville, NCNC6,28265.4%–

120Pineville, NCNC11,85165.5%–

121Half Moon, NCNC7,37865.7%–

122Kernersville, NCNC29,12865.9%–

123Kings Grant, NCNC9,00365.9%–

124Fayetteville, NCNC209,12066.2%–

125Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56666.2%–

126Lewisville, NCNC14,42166.3%–

127Creedmoor, NCNC5,04666.5%–

128Statesville, NCNC32,18166.5%–

129Rolesville, NCNC12,83966.7%–

130Matthews, NCNC32,76966.8%–

131Northchase, NCNC5,89666.9%–

132Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64967.0%–

133Silver Lake, NCNC6,56367.1%–

134Harrisburg, NCNC20,74267.5%–

135St. Stephens, NCNC9,45767.6%–

136Mooresville, NCNC55,84267.6%–

137Mebane, NCNC21,95268.0%–

138Wendell, NCNC19,68768.3%–

139Unionville, NCNC7,32268.3%–

140Winterville, NCNC10,97368.5%–

141Spring Lake, NCNC11,25268.6%–

142Marvin, NCNC7,04068.6%–

143Gibsonville, NCNC9,87668.7%–

144Clayton, NCNC32,63368.7%–

145Waxhaw, NCNC23,14069.0%–

146Durham, NCNC305,56169.0%–

147Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53669.1%–

148Stokesdale, NCNC6,13369.6%–

149Concord, NCNC114,59869.8%–

150Garner, NCNC41,56270.0%–

151Raleigh, NCNC506,30670.3%–

152Cary, NCNC183,58270.6%–

153Huntersville, NCNC68,53570.9%–

154Stallings, NCNC17,76071.4%–

155Mount Holly, NCNC19,03371.5%–

156Wake Forest, NCNC58,14771.7%–

157Charlotte, NCNC964,78471.8%–

158Spout Springs, NCNC11,24271.8%–

159Carrboro, NCNC20,96271.8%–

160Holly Springs, NCNC50,28872.2%–

161Murraysville, NCNC16,33972.4%–

162Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90872.6%–

163Nashville, NCNC5,91173.3%–

164East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32373.4%–

165Piney Green, NCNC14,07873.4%–

166Moyock, NCNC5,68473.7%–

167Morrisville, NCNC32,46673.7%–

168Cramerton, NCNC5,71374.1%–

169Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73174.1%–

170Apex, NCNC80,41974.6%–

171Indian Trail, NCNC44,30375.0%–

172Havelock, NCNC17,43077.3%–

173Knightdale, NCNC23,14477.8%–

174Jacksonville, NCNC72,73278.4%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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