RANKING · 2024 ACS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Lowest labor force participation, North Carolina counties

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

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2000

01Pamlico County, NCNC12,75843.0%–

02Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53743.1%–

03Washington County, NCNC10,63845.0%–

04Hyde County, NCNC4,55445.1%–

05Clay County, NCNC12,23945.4%–

06Bertie County, NCNC17,08645.7%–

07Avery County, NCNC18,11047.3%–

08Alleghany County, NCNC11,47947.5%–

09Transylvania County, NCNC34,21149.0%–

10Brunswick County, NCNC174,70249.1%–

11Cherokee County, NCNC30,83049.3%–

12Bladen County, NCNC30,00749.5%–

13Warren County, NCNC18,89849.7%–

14Columbus County, NCNC50,48750.6%–

15Graham County, NCNC8,19050.9%–

16Robeson County, NCNC119,94150.9%–

17Caswell County, NCNC22,56351.2%–

18Hertford County, NCNC19,01551.3%–

19Greene County, NCNC20,70051.4%–

20Perquimans County, NCNC13,49051.5%–

21Anson County, NCNC21,75851.5%–

22Halifax County, NCNC46,53451.9%–

23Northampton County, NCNC16,49152.3%–

24Ashe County, NCNC27,51452.7%–

25Scotland County, NCNC33,32252.9%–

26Montgomery County, NCNC26,40353.2%–

27Macon County, NCNC39,23253.3%–

28Polk County, NCNC20,53353.8%–

29Granville County, NCNC61,42154.2%–

30Yancey County, NCNC19,08454.4%–

31McDowell County, NCNC45,19854.5%–

32Jones County, NCNC9,57554.8%–

33Rutherford County, NCNC65,74554.9%–

34Stokes County, NCNC46,12654.9%–

35Carteret County, NCNC70,46955.0%–

36Beaufort County, NCNC44,67055.2%–

37Madison County, NCNC22,55355.5%–

38Wilkes County, NCNC66,23355.7%–

39Gates County, NCNC10,23455.8%–

40Jackson County, NCNC45,03955.8%–

41Chowan County, NCNC14,08255.9%–

42Haywood County, NCNC63,36956.0%–

43Mitchell County, NCNC15,06256.2%–

44Lenoir County, NCNC55,83756.3%–

45Alexander County, NCNC36,95856.3%–

46Sampson County, NCNC61,50456.4%–

47Rockingham County, NCNC94,19556.6%–

48Martin County, NCNC21,60156.7%–

49Swain County, NCNC14,02457.0%–

50Surry County, NCNC72,28757.1%–

51Henderson County, NCNC122,37557.2%–

52Moore County, NCNC110,61957.2%–

53Richmond County, NCNC42,04157.3%–

54Wilson County, NCNC81,15057.5%–

55Burke County, NCNC88,65557.7%–

56Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12158.3%–

57Caldwell County, NCNC81,10558.4%–

58Stanly County, NCNC68,83058.4%–

59Vance County, NCNC42,63858.5%–

60Chatham County, NCNC85,11158.6%–

61Yadkin County, NCNC38,32558.6%–

62Cleveland County, NCNC103,32558.7%–

63Craven County, NCNC105,02558.7%–

64Watauga County, NCNC54,78659.0%–

65Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20159.0%–

66Buncombe County, NCNC277,41759.1%–

67Duplin County, NCNC51,57159.3%–

68Davie County, NCNC45,85559.4%–

69Nash County, NCNC99,36559.5%–

70Harnett County, NCNC150,13759.8%–

71Davidson County, NCNC180,18259.9%–

72Rowan County, NCNC155,09660.0%–

73Hoke County, NCNC56,93960.0%–

74Person County, NCNC40,63660.2%–

75Catawba County, NCNC170,17260.3%–

76Randolph County, NCNC149,51660.5%–

77Lee County, NCNC70,25860.8%–

78Lincoln County, NCNC98,65460.9%–

79Pender County, NCNC72,11160.9%–

80Wayne County, NCNC122,27861.2%–

81Franklin County, NCNC82,03761.8%–

82Orange County, NCNC152,49861.8%–

83Forsyth County, NCNC401,71862.2%–

84Gaston County, NCNC246,55862.6%–

85Pitt County, NCNC182,93662.8%–

86Alamance County, NCNC186,17763.3%–

87Dare County, NCNC38,24564.0%–

88Guilford County, NCNC562,23464.1%–

89Cumberland County, NCNC338,47364.6%–

90Iredell County, NCNC211,79864.8%–

91New Hanover County, NCNC245,95965.7%–

92Johnston County, NCNC256,44866.2%–

93Currituck County, NCNC33,15866.6%–

94Camden County, NCNC11,31567.4%–

95Durham County, NCNC347,24067.7%–

96Union County, NCNC267,67467.7%–

97Cabarrus County, NCNC249,72568.4%–

98Wake County, NCNC1,257,23569.8%–

99Onslow County, NCNC217,17570.0%–

100Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,38372.0%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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