RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Lowest unemployment, North Carolina counties · 2020

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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North CarolinaAll states All rankings

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

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

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