RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Lowest labor force participation, North Carolina counties · 2020

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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North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2000

01Pamlico County, NCNC12,75843.0%–

02Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53744.7%–

03Avery County, NCNC18,11045.4%–

04Washington County, NCNC10,63846.8%–

05Columbus County, NCNC50,48747.2%–

06Bertie County, NCNC17,08647.6%–

07Hyde County, NCNC4,55447.7%–

08Northampton County, NCNC16,49147.8%–

09Cherokee County, NCNC30,83048.0%–

10Brunswick County, NCNC174,70248.4%–

11Bladen County, NCNC30,00748.8%–

12Halifax County, NCNC46,53448.8%–

13Clay County, NCNC12,23949.0%–

14Warren County, NCNC18,89849.6%–

15Hertford County, NCNC19,01549.7%–

16Montgomery County, NCNC26,40350.1%–

17Perquimans County, NCNC13,49050.2%–

18Alleghany County, NCNC11,47950.3%–

19Graham County, NCNC8,19050.5%–

20Macon County, NCNC39,23250.7%–

21Scotland County, NCNC33,32250.8%–

22Robeson County, NCNC119,94151.0%–

23Transylvania County, NCNC34,21151.4%–

24Jones County, NCNC9,57551.4%–

25Greene County, NCNC20,70051.7%–

26Chowan County, NCNC14,08252.3%–

27Caswell County, NCNC22,56352.8%–

28Rutherford County, NCNC65,74552.9%–

29Yancey County, NCNC19,08453.1%–

30Polk County, NCNC20,53353.2%–

31Madison County, NCNC22,55354.4%–

32Mitchell County, NCNC15,06254.4%–

33McDowell County, NCNC45,19854.6%–

34Beaufort County, NCNC44,67054.6%–

35Jackson County, NCNC45,03954.6%–

36Swain County, NCNC14,02455.4%–

37Anson County, NCNC21,75855.5%–

38Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12155.7%–

39Wilkes County, NCNC66,23356.0%–

40Burke County, NCNC88,65556.0%–

41Haywood County, NCNC63,36956.2%–

42Carteret County, NCNC70,46956.4%–

43Rockingham County, NCNC94,19556.6%–

44Ashe County, NCNC27,51456.6%–

45Cleveland County, NCNC103,32556.7%–

46Surry County, NCNC72,28756.7%–

47Martin County, NCNC21,60157.0%–

48Yadkin County, NCNC38,32557.1%–

49Gates County, NCNC10,23457.4%–

50Moore County, NCNC110,61957.5%–

51Caldwell County, NCNC81,10557.6%–

52Richmond County, NCNC42,04157.6%–

53Lenoir County, NCNC55,83757.7%–

54Duplin County, NCNC51,57157.7%–

55Chatham County, NCNC85,11157.7%–

56Stokes County, NCNC46,12658.0%–

57Alexander County, NCNC36,95858.0%–

58Henderson County, NCNC122,37558.0%–

59Granville County, NCNC61,42158.1%–

60Sampson County, NCNC61,50458.2%–

61Vance County, NCNC42,63858.6%–

62Camden County, NCNC11,31559.1%–

63Davidson County, NCNC180,18259.1%–

64Wilson County, NCNC81,15059.3%–

65Hoke County, NCNC56,93959.4%–

66Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20159.4%–

67Craven County, NCNC105,02559.4%–

68Nash County, NCNC99,36559.6%–

69Watauga County, NCNC54,78659.7%–

70Pender County, NCNC72,11159.9%–

71Rowan County, NCNC155,09659.9%–

72Randolph County, NCNC149,51660.0%–

73Stanly County, NCNC68,83060.2%–

74Harnett County, NCNC150,13760.2%–

75Davie County, NCNC45,85560.3%–

76Wayne County, NCNC122,27860.4%–

77Franklin County, NCNC82,03761.0%–

78Lee County, NCNC70,25861.1%–

79Buncombe County, NCNC277,41761.2%–

80Alamance County, NCNC186,17761.6%–

81Forsyth County, NCNC401,71861.7%–

82Lincoln County, NCNC98,65461.9%–

83Catawba County, NCNC170,17262.3%–

84Orange County, NCNC152,49862.3%–

85Gaston County, NCNC246,55862.4%–

86New Hanover County, NCNC245,95962.7%–

87Person County, NCNC40,63662.8%–

88Pitt County, NCNC182,93663.2%–

89Guilford County, NCNC562,23463.9%–

90Iredell County, NCNC211,79864.4%–

91Cumberland County, NCNC338,47364.4%–

92Dare County, NCNC38,24564.6%–

93Currituck County, NCNC33,15864.8%–

94Johnston County, NCNC256,44865.0%–

95Durham County, NCNC347,24067.0%–

96Union County, NCNC267,67467.5%–

97Cabarrus County, NCNC249,72567.6%–

98Wake County, NCNC1,257,23570.4%–

99Onslow County, NCNC217,17570.9%–

100Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,38371.0%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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