RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina counties · 2020

North Carolina counties ranked by the lowest unemployment rate (2020 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Highest unemployment, US counties →

North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost unemployed people Highest unemployment Highest labor force participation Lowest labor force participation Most white-collar workforce Most self-employed workers

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYMENT RATEVS –

01Henderson County, NCNC122,3753.0%–

02Buncombe County, NCNC277,4173.2%–

03Currituck County, NCNC33,1583.3%–

04Graham County, NCNC8,1903.4%–

05Madison County, NCNC22,5533.4%–

06Alleghany County, NCNC11,4793.4%–

07Clay County, NCNC12,2393.5%–

08Montgomery County, NCNC26,4033.5%–

09Polk County, NCNC20,5333.7%–

10Tyrrell County, NCNC3,5374.0%–

11Orange County, NCNC152,4984.0%–

12Davie County, NCNC45,8554.0%–

13Haywood County, NCNC63,3694.1%–

14Wake County, NCNC1,257,2354.2%–

15Johnston County, NCNC256,4484.3%–

16Chatham County, NCNC85,1114.4%–

17Ashe County, NCNC27,5144.4%–

18Mitchell County, NCNC15,0624.5%–

19Randolph County, NCNC149,5164.5%–

20Hyde County, NCNC4,5544.5%–

21Surry County, NCNC72,2874.6%–

22Moore County, NCNC110,6194.6%–

23Pamlico County, NCNC12,7584.6%–

24Union County, NCNC267,6744.7%–

25Durham County, NCNC347,2404.7%–

26Granville County, NCNC61,4214.7%–

27Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3834.7%–

28Iredell County, NCNC211,7984.8%–

29Stokes County, NCNC46,1264.8%–

30Macon County, NCNC39,2324.8%–

31Cherokee County, NCNC30,8304.9%–

32Stanly County, NCNC68,8304.9%–

33Bladen County, NCNC30,0075.0%–

34Forsyth County, NCNC401,7185.0%–

35Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7255.0%–

36Yadkin County, NCNC38,3255.1%–

37New Hanover County, NCNC245,9595.2%–

38Lincoln County, NCNC98,6545.2%–

39Alamance County, NCNC186,1775.2%–

40Wilkes County, NCNC66,2335.3%–

41Chowan County, NCNC14,0825.3%–

42Perquimans County, NCNC13,4905.3%–

43Carteret County, NCNC70,4695.3%–

44Transylvania County, NCNC34,2115.4%–

45Wayne County, NCNC122,2785.4%–

46Davidson County, NCNC180,1825.5%–

47Dare County, NCNC38,2455.6%–

48Lee County, NCNC70,2585.6%–

49Greene County, NCNC20,7005.6%–

50McDowell County, NCNC45,1985.7%–

51Avery County, NCNC18,1105.7%–

52Columbus County, NCNC50,4875.7%–

53Alexander County, NCNC36,9585.8%–

54Caswell County, NCNC22,5635.8%–

55Jackson County, NCNC45,0395.8%–

56Guilford County, NCNC562,2345.9%–

57Duplin County, NCNC51,5715.9%–

58Brunswick County, NCNC174,7026.0%–

59Gaston County, NCNC246,5586.0%–

60Catawba County, NCNC170,1726.0%–

61Swain County, NCNC14,0246.1%–

62Person County, NCNC40,6366.1%–

63Craven County, NCNC105,0256.1%–

64Rockingham County, NCNC94,1956.3%–

65Caldwell County, NCNC81,1056.5%–

66Halifax County, NCNC46,5346.5%–

67Harnett County, NCNC150,1376.6%–

68Burke County, NCNC88,6556.6%–

69Pasquotank County, NCNC42,2016.7%–

70Rutherford County, NCNC65,7456.7%–

71Sampson County, NCNC61,5046.8%–

72Franklin County, NCNC82,0376.8%–

73Beaufort County, NCNC44,6706.9%–

74Rowan County, NCNC155,0967.0%–

75Nash County, NCNC99,3657.2%–

76Washington County, NCNC10,6387.3%–

77Robeson County, NCNC119,9417.4%–

78Yancey County, NCNC19,0847.4%–

79Cleveland County, NCNC103,3257.4%–

80Anson County, NCNC21,7587.4%–

81Pender County, NCNC72,1117.5%–

82Cumberland County, NCNC338,4737.8%–

83Northampton County, NCNC16,4917.8%–

84Hoke County, NCNC56,9397.9%–

85Onslow County, NCNC217,1758.0%–

86Vance County, NCNC42,6388.0%–

87Pitt County, NCNC182,9368.1%–

88Richmond County, NCNC42,0418.2%–

89Hertford County, NCNC19,0158.3%–

90Jones County, NCNC9,5758.4%–

91Wilson County, NCNC81,1508.6%–

92Camden County, NCNC11,3158.7%–

93Watauga County, NCNC54,7868.7%–

94Edgecombe County, NCNC49,1218.9%–

95Lenoir County, NCNC55,8378.9%–

96Warren County, NCNC18,8989.0%–

97Gates County, NCNC10,2349.6%–

98Martin County, NCNC21,6019.9%–

99Bertie County, NCNC17,08610.0%–

100Scotland County, NCNC33,32211.7%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

Download CSV (full list, 100 rows)

UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS