Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / Counties in North Carolina

Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW)

Mecklenburg County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 100 counties in 2016, at 661,927 jobs. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at 1,139 jobs. The median was 16,161 jobs and the figure for North Carolina was 4,259,276 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest661,927Mecklenburg County
Lowest1,139Tyrrell County
Median16,161100 counties
North Carolina4,259,276History

Map of counties, 2016

Alamance County: 59,624 jobsAlexander County: 8,885 jobsAlleghany County: 3,283 jobsAnson County: 7,290 jobsAshe County: 7,035 jobsAvery County: 6,767 jobsBeaufort County: 16,202 jobsBertie County: 6,210 jobsBladen County: 12,959 jobsBrunswick County: 30,894 jobsBuncombe County: 127,316 jobsBurke County: 29,387 jobsCabarrus County: 72,759 jobsCaldwell County: 24,103 jobsCamden County: 1,367 jobsCarteret County: 23,099 jobsCaswell County: 2,967 jobsCatawba County: 85,479 jobsChatham County: 14,359 jobsCherokee County: 7,960 jobsChowan County: 4,539 jobsClay County: 2,013 jobsCleveland County: 34,234 jobsColumbus County: 15,499 jobsCraven County: 39,424 jobsCumberland County: 119,025 jobsCurrituck County: 6,463 jobsDare County: 19,138 jobsDavidson County: 43,104 jobsDavie County: 12,311 jobsDuplin County: 20,190 jobsDurham County: 195,657 jobsEdgecombe County: 16,869 jobsForsyth County: 182,389 jobsFranklin County: 11,517 jobsGaston County: 70,085 jobsGates County: 1,460 jobsGraham County: 1,928 jobsGranville County: 20,889 jobsGreene County: 4,139 jobsGuilford County: 278,182 jobsHalifax County: 15,626 jobsHarnett County: 24,529 jobsHaywood County: 17,071 jobsHenderson County: 36,887 jobsHertford County: 9,029 jobsHoke County: 8,238 jobsHyde County: 1,941 jobsIredell County: 71,664 jobsJackson County: 13,217 jobsJohnston County: 46,367 jobsJones County: 1,613 jobsLee County: 25,622 jobsLenoir County: 27,721 jobsLincoln County: 22,339 jobsMcDowell County: 16,120 jobsMacon County: 10,985 jobsMadison County: 3,721 jobsMartin County: 7,099 jobsMecklenburg County: 661,927 jobsMitchell County: 4,736 jobsMontgomery County: 9,333 jobsMoore County: 34,412 jobsNash County: 40,282 jobsNew Hanover County: 109,339 jobsNorthampton County: 5,355 jobsOnslow County: 47,913 jobsOrange County: 70,294 jobsPamlico County: 3,376 jobsPasquotank County: 15,773 jobsPender County: 11,370 jobsPerquimans County: 2,050 jobsPerson County: 10,141 jobsPitt County: 74,952 jobsPolk County: 5,082 jobsRandolph County: 44,800 jobsRichmond County: 13,492 jobsRobeson County: 38,583 jobsRockingham County: 26,523 jobsRowan County: 47,071 jobsRutherford County: 18,141 jobsSampson County: 18,408 jobsScotland County: 11,736 jobsStanly County: 19,060 jobsStokes County: 7,016 jobsSurry County: 28,475 jobsSwain County: 10,332 jobsTransylvania County: 8,827 jobsTyrrell County: 1,139 jobsUnion County: 61,388 jobsVance County: 15,039 jobsWake County: 530,547 jobsWarren County: 3,422 jobsWashington County: 3,465 jobsWatauga County: 22,735 jobsWayne County: 42,150 jobsWilkes County: 21,826 jobsWilson County: 37,160 jobsYadkin County: 10,121 jobsYancey County: 3,730 jobs
  • Under 5,000
  • 5,000 to 10K
  • 10K to 16K
  • 16K to 27K
  • 27K to 47K
  • 47K and over
jobs, 2016. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Mecklenburg County: 661,927 jobsMecklenburg County661,927Wake County: 530,547 jobsWake County530,547Guilford County: 278,182 jobsGuilford County278,182Durham County: 195,657 jobsDurham County195,657Forsyth County: 182,389 jobsForsyth County182,389Buncombe County: 127,316 jobsBuncombe County127,316Cumberland County: 119,025 jobsCumberland County119,025New Hanover County: 109,339 jobsNew Hanover County109,339Catawba County: 85,479 jobsCatawba County85,479Pitt County: 74,952 jobsPitt County74,952Cabarrus County: 72,759 jobsCabarrus County72,759Iredell County: 71,664 jobsIredell County71,664Orange County: 70,294 jobsOrange County70,294Gaston County: 70,085 jobsGaston County70,085Union County: 61,388 jobsUnion County61,388Alamance County: 59,624 jobsAlamance County59,624Onslow County: 47,913 jobsOnslow County47,913Rowan County: 47,071 jobsRowan County47,071Johnston County: 46,367 jobsJohnston County46,367Randolph County: 44,800 jobsRandolph County44,800Davidson County: 43,104 jobsDavidson County43,104Wayne County: 42,150 jobsWayne County42,150Nash County: 40,282 jobsNash County40,282Craven County: 39,424 jobsCraven County39,424Robeson County: 38,583 jobsRobeson County38,583Wilson County: 37,160 jobsWilson County37,160Henderson County: 36,887 jobsHenderson County36,887Moore County: 34,412 jobsMoore County34,412Cleveland County: 34,234 jobsCleveland County34,234Brunswick County: 30,894 jobsBrunswick County30,894Burke County: 29,387 jobsBurke County29,387Surry County: 28,475 jobsSurry County28,475Lenoir County: 27,721 jobsLenoir County27,721Rockingham County: 26,523 jobsRockingham County26,523Lee County: 25,622 jobsLee County25,622Harnett County: 24,529 jobsHarnett County24,529Caldwell County: 24,103 jobsCaldwell County24,103Carteret County: 23,099 jobsCarteret County23,099Watauga County: 22,735 jobsWatauga County22,735Lincoln County: 22,339 jobsLincoln County22,339Mecklenburg County: 661,927 jobsMecklenburg County661,927Wake County: 530,547 jobsWake County530,547Guilford County: 278,182 jobsGuilford County278,182Durham County: 195,657 jobsDurham County195,657Forsyth County: 182,389 jobsForsyth County182,389Buncombe County: 127,316 jobsBuncombe County127,316Cumberland County: 119,025 jobsCumberland County119,025New Hanover County: 109,339 jobsNew Hanover County109,339Catawba County: 85,479 jobsCatawba County85,479Pitt County: 74,952 jobsPitt County74,952Cabarrus County: 72,759 jobsCabarrus County72,759Iredell County: 71,664 jobsIredell County71,664Orange County: 70,294 jobsOrange County70,294Gaston County: 70,085 jobsGaston County70,085Union County: 61,388 jobsUnion County61,388Alamance County: 59,624 jobsAlamance County59,624Onslow County: 47,913 jobsOnslow County47,913Rowan County: 47,071 jobsRowan County47,071Johnston County: 46,367 jobsJohnston County46,367Randolph County: 44,800 jobsRandolph County44,800Davidson County: 43,104 jobsDavidson County43,104Wayne County: 42,150 jobsWayne County42,150Nash County: 40,282 jobsNash County40,282Craven County: 39,424 jobsCraven County39,424Robeson County: 38,583 jobsRobeson County38,583Wilson County: 37,160 jobsWilson County37,160Henderson County: 36,887 jobsHenderson County36,887Moore County: 34,412 jobsMoore County34,412Cleveland County: 34,234 jobsCleveland County34,234Brunswick County: 30,894 jobsBrunswick County30,894Burke County: 29,387 jobsBurke County29,387Surry County: 28,475 jobsSurry County28,475Lenoir County: 27,721 jobsLenoir County27,721Rockingham County: 26,523 jobsRockingham County26,523Lee County: 25,622 jobsLee County25,622Harnett County: 24,529 jobsHarnett County24,529Caldwell County: 24,103 jobsCaldwell County24,103Carteret County: 23,099 jobsCarteret County23,099Watauga County: 22,735 jobsWatauga County22,735Lincoln County: 22,339 jobsLincoln County22,339
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016
jobs		Change on 2015
1Mecklenburg County661,927+3.9%
2Wake County530,547+3.7%
3Guilford County278,182+1%
4Durham County195,657+2.3%
5Forsyth County182,389+1.1%
6Buncombe County127,316+2.8%
7Cumberland County119,025+1.7%
8New Hanover County109,339+3.1%
9Catawba County85,479+2.8%
10Pitt County74,952+0.7%
11Cabarrus County72,759+6.2%
12Iredell County71,664+3%
13Orange County70,294+4.9%
14Gaston County70,085+0.1%
15Union County61,388+3.4%
16Alamance County59,624+2.6%
17Onslow County47,913-0.8%
18Rowan County47,071+0.5%
19Johnston County46,367+1.3%
20Randolph County44,800+0.9%
21Davidson County43,104+3%
22Wayne County42,150-0.5%
23Nash County40,282-0.9%
24Craven County39,424+1.8%
25Robeson County38,583-1%
26Wilson County37,160+0.6%
27Henderson County36,887+4.6%
28Moore County34,412+3.9%
29Cleveland County34,234+1.9%
30Brunswick County30,894+3.3%
31Burke County29,387-0.4%
32Surry County28,475+0.9%
33Lenoir County27,7210%
34Rockingham County26,523+1.9%
35Lee County25,622+1.9%
36Harnett County24,529+4.5%
37Caldwell County24,103+3.3%
38Carteret County23,099+1.5%
39Watauga County22,735+2%
40Lincoln County22,339+3.2%
41Wilkes County21,826+2.9%
42Granville County20,889+2.9%
43Duplin County20,190+0.4%
44Dare County19,138-1.2%
45Stanly County19,060+1.4%
46Sampson County18,408+0.2%
47Rutherford County18,141-0.1%
48Haywood County17,071+2.1%
49Edgecombe County16,869+2.5%
50Beaufort County16,202+3.4%
51McDowell County16,120-1.4%
52Pasquotank County15,773+0.3%
53Halifax County15,626-0.3%
54Columbus County15,499+0.3%
55Vance County15,039+0.5%
56Chatham County14,359+0.9%
57Richmond County13,492-0.1%
58Jackson County13,217+2.4%
59Bladen County12,959+0.3%
60Davie County12,311+4.6%
61Scotland County11,736-0.4%
62Franklin County11,517+1.4%
63Pender County11,370+3.9%
64Macon County10,985+1.2%
65Swain County10,332+7.8%
66Person County10,141+1%
67Yadkin County10,121+3.7%
68Montgomery County9,333+1.1%
69Hertford County9,029+1.4%
70Alexander County8,885-0.9%
71Transylvania County8,827+3.9%
72Hoke County8,238+5.2%
73Cherokee County7,960+0.9%
74Anson County7,290-2.8%
75Martin County7,099+2.2%
76Ashe County7,035+3.3%
77Stokes County7,016+0.8%
78Avery County6,767+1.5%
79Currituck County6,463-3%
80Bertie County6,210-3.4%
81Northampton County5,355+0.9%
82Polk County5,082+1.9%
83Mitchell County4,736-1.7%
84Chowan County4,539-0.5%
85Greene County4,139+0.4%
86Yancey County3,730+1.6%
87Madison County3,721-2.1%
88Washington County3,465-0.9%
89Warren County3,422+0.1%
90Pamlico County3,376-1.2%
91Alleghany County3,283-2.4%
92Caswell County2,967-0.4%
93Perquimans County2,050+3.7%
94Clay County2,013+1.5%
95Hyde County1,941-10.1%
96Graham County1,928-0.9%
97Jones County1,613+4.8%
98Gates County1,460+2.5%
99Camden County1,367-2.8%
100Tyrrell County1,139-0.6%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_carolina_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by covered employment (QCEW), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Mecklenburg County, with 661,927 jobs in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Tyrrell County, with 1,139 jobs in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings