RANKING · 2024 ACS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina counties

North Carolina counties ranked by the lowest unemployment rate (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

RELATEDHighest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS 2000

01Hyde County, NCNC4,5542.5%–

02Clay County, NCNC12,2392.6%–

03Transylvania County, NCNC34,2112.8%–

04Macon County, NCNC39,2322.8%–

05Tyrrell County, NCNC3,5372.8%–

06Montgomery County, NCNC26,4032.8%–

07Chatham County, NCNC85,1112.9%–

08Currituck County, NCNC33,1583.0%–

09Haywood County, NCNC63,3693.1%–

10Stokes County, NCNC46,1263.1%–

11Madison County, NCNC22,5533.1%–

12Lincoln County, NCNC98,6543.3%–

13Henderson County, NCNC122,3753.5%–

14Randolph County, NCNC149,5163.5%–

15Perquimans County, NCNC13,4903.6%–

16Orange County, NCNC152,4983.6%–

17Catawba County, NCNC170,1723.7%–

18Alleghany County, NCNC11,4793.7%–

19Johnston County, NCNC256,4483.8%–

20Lee County, NCNC70,2583.8%–

21Durham County, NCNC347,2403.9%–

22Beaufort County, NCNC44,6703.9%–

23Carteret County, NCNC70,4694.0%–

24Stanly County, NCNC68,8304.1%–

25Cherokee County, NCNC30,8304.1%–

26McDowell County, NCNC45,1984.1%–

27Wake County, NCNC1,257,2354.1%–

28Davidson County, NCNC180,1824.1%–

29Chowan County, NCNC14,0824.1%–

30Iredell County, NCNC211,7984.2%–

31Union County, NCNC267,6744.2%–

32Craven County, NCNC105,0254.2%–

33Buncombe County, NCNC277,4174.3%–

34Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3834.3%–

35Jones County, NCNC9,5754.4%–

36Surry County, NCNC72,2874.4%–

37Burke County, NCNC88,6554.4%–

38Columbus County, NCNC50,4874.4%–

39New Hanover County, NCNC245,9594.5%–

40Granville County, NCNC61,4214.6%–

41Guilford County, NCNC562,2344.6%–

42Franklin County, NCNC82,0374.6%–

43Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7254.6%–

44Brunswick County, NCNC174,7024.7%–

45Harnett County, NCNC150,1374.7%–

46Davie County, NCNC45,8554.7%–

47Gaston County, NCNC246,5584.8%–

48Ashe County, NCNC27,5144.8%–

49Pender County, NCNC72,1114.8%–

50Moore County, NCNC110,6194.8%–

51Avery County, NCNC18,1104.8%–

52Jackson County, NCNC45,0394.9%–

53Nash County, NCNC99,3654.9%–

54Wilkes County, NCNC66,2335.0%–

55Alexander County, NCNC36,9585.0%–

56Caldwell County, NCNC81,1055.0%–

57Forsyth County, NCNC401,7185.0%–

58Alamance County, NCNC186,1775.1%–

59Polk County, NCNC20,5335.1%–

60Bertie County, NCNC17,0865.1%–

61Pamlico County, NCNC12,7585.1%–

62Caswell County, NCNC22,5635.2%–

63Cleveland County, NCNC103,3255.2%–

64Wayne County, NCNC122,2785.2%–

65Sampson County, NCNC61,5045.3%–

66Yadkin County, NCNC38,3255.3%–

67Rowan County, NCNC155,0965.3%–

68Duplin County, NCNC51,5715.3%–

69Onslow County, NCNC217,1755.4%–

70Bladen County, NCNC30,0075.4%–

71Camden County, NCNC11,3155.5%–

72Anson County, NCNC21,7585.5%–

73Person County, NCNC40,6365.6%–

74Wilson County, NCNC81,1505.6%–

75Greene County, NCNC20,7005.7%–

76Rockingham County, NCNC94,1955.8%–

77Pasquotank County, NCNC42,2015.9%–

78Gates County, NCNC10,2345.9%–

79Dare County, NCNC38,2455.9%–

80Robeson County, NCNC119,9416.0%–

81Hertford County, NCNC19,0156.0%–

82Martin County, NCNC21,6016.1%–

83Rutherford County, NCNC65,7456.3%–

84Mitchell County, NCNC15,0626.5%–

85Hoke County, NCNC56,9396.6%–

86Graham County, NCNC8,1907.0%–

87Warren County, NCNC18,8987.2%–

88Yancey County, NCNC19,0847.3%–

89Swain County, NCNC14,0247.6%–

90Cumberland County, NCNC338,4737.6%–

91Pitt County, NCNC182,9367.8%–

92Watauga County, NCNC54,7867.9%–

93Northampton County, NCNC16,4918.1%–

94Vance County, NCNC42,6388.2%–

95Edgecombe County, NCNC49,1218.7%–

96Lenoir County, NCNC55,8379.0%–

97Halifax County, NCNC46,5349.3%–

98Richmond County, NCNC42,0419.8%–

99Scotland County, NCNC33,32210.9%–

100Washington County, NCNC10,63813.0%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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