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 2024, at 788,436 jobs. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at 963 jobs. The median was 15,937 jobs and the figure for North Carolina was 4,901,211 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest788,436Mecklenburg County
Lowest963Tyrrell County
Median15,937100 counties
North Carolina4,901,211History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 67,668 jobsAlexander County: 8,510 jobsAlleghany County: 3,434 jobsAnson County: 6,594 jobsAshe County: 7,486 jobsAvery County: 7,186 jobsBeaufort County: 15,848 jobsBertie County: 5,174 jobsBladen County: 13,453 jobsBrunswick County: 41,268 jobsBuncombe County: 136,495 jobsBurke County: 29,553 jobsCabarrus County: 87,725 jobsCaldwell County: 25,506 jobsCamden County: 1,270 jobsCarteret County: 25,022 jobsCaswell County: 3,002 jobsCatawba County: 89,388 jobsChatham County: 18,540 jobsCherokee County: 7,976 jobsChowan County: 5,071 jobsClay County: 2,182 jobsCleveland County: 36,696 jobsColumbus County: 14,466 jobsCraven County: 40,890 jobsCumberland County: 122,995 jobsCurrituck County: 7,450 jobsDare County: 20,359 jobsDavidson County: 46,653 jobsDavie County: 13,854 jobsDuplin County: 19,429 jobsDurham County: 236,749 jobsEdgecombe County: 15,302 jobsForsyth County: 192,587 jobsFranklin County: 13,747 jobsGaston County: 79,486 jobsGates County: 1,408 jobsGraham County: 2,011 jobsGranville County: 20,301 jobsGreene County: 4,501 jobsGuilford County: 287,996 jobsHalifax County: 15,156 jobsHarnett County: 28,081 jobsHaywood County: 17,496 jobsHenderson County: 44,207 jobsHertford County: 8,625 jobsHoke County: 9,046 jobsHyde County: 1,768 jobsIredell County: 81,195 jobsJackson County: 14,477 jobsJohnston County: 61,005 jobsJones County: 1,678 jobsLee County: 27,674 jobsLenoir County: 29,083 jobsLincoln County: 28,110 jobsMcDowell County: 15,350 jobsMacon County: 12,334 jobsMadison County: 4,310 jobsMartin County: 6,150 jobsMecklenburg County: 788,436 jobsMitchell County: 5,085 jobsMontgomery County: 8,933 jobsMoore County: 40,121 jobsNash County: 39,498 jobsNew Hanover County: 130,464 jobsNorthampton County: 4,859 jobsOnslow County: 54,121 jobsOrange County: 78,431 jobsPamlico County: 3,692 jobsPasquotank County: 16,026 jobsPender County: 14,704 jobsPerquimans County: 2,412 jobsPerson County: 9,288 jobsPitt County: 81,371 jobsPolk County: 5,441 jobsRandolph County: 44,093 jobsRichmond County: 14,036 jobsRobeson County: 38,484 jobsRockingham County: 24,908 jobsRowan County: 50,595 jobsRutherford County: 17,994 jobsSampson County: 17,090 jobsScotland County: 11,960 jobsStanly County: 23,093 jobsStokes County: 7,708 jobsSurry County: 29,147 jobsSwain County: 11,309 jobsTransylvania County: 9,754 jobsTyrrell County: 963 jobsUnion County: 74,299 jobsVance County: 14,120 jobsWake County: 653,153 jobsWarren County: 2,889 jobsWashington County: 3,099 jobsWatauga County: 25,106 jobsWayne County: 41,880 jobsWilkes County: 18,933 jobsWilson County: 35,117 jobsYadkin County: 10,066 jobsYancey County: 4,648 jobs
  • Under 5,000
  • 5,000 to 10K
  • 10K to 16K
  • 16K to 28K
  • 28K to 58K
  • 58K and over
jobs, 2024. 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, 2024

Mecklenburg County: 788,436 jobsMecklenburg County788,436Wake County: 653,153 jobsWake County653,153Guilford County: 287,996 jobsGuilford County287,996Durham County: 236,749 jobsDurham County236,749Forsyth County: 192,587 jobsForsyth County192,587Buncombe County: 136,495 jobsBuncombe County136,495New Hanover County: 130,464 jobsNew Hanover County130,464Cumberland County: 122,995 jobsCumberland County122,995Catawba County: 89,388 jobsCatawba County89,388Cabarrus County: 87,725 jobsCabarrus County87,725Pitt County: 81,371 jobsPitt County81,371Iredell County: 81,195 jobsIredell County81,195Gaston County: 79,486 jobsGaston County79,486Orange County: 78,431 jobsOrange County78,431Union County: 74,299 jobsUnion County74,299Alamance County: 67,668 jobsAlamance County67,668Johnston County: 61,005 jobsJohnston County61,005Onslow County: 54,121 jobsOnslow County54,121Rowan County: 50,595 jobsRowan County50,595Davidson County: 46,653 jobsDavidson County46,653Henderson County: 44,207 jobsHenderson County44,207Randolph County: 44,093 jobsRandolph County44,093Wayne County: 41,880 jobsWayne County41,880Brunswick County: 41,268 jobsBrunswick County41,268Craven County: 40,890 jobsCraven County40,890Moore County: 40,121 jobsMoore County40,121Nash County: 39,498 jobsNash County39,498Robeson County: 38,484 jobsRobeson County38,484Cleveland County: 36,696 jobsCleveland County36,696Wilson County: 35,117 jobsWilson County35,117Burke County: 29,553 jobsBurke County29,553Surry County: 29,147 jobsSurry County29,147Lenoir County: 29,083 jobsLenoir County29,083Lincoln County: 28,110 jobsLincoln County28,110Harnett County: 28,081 jobsHarnett County28,081Lee County: 27,674 jobsLee County27,674Caldwell County: 25,506 jobsCaldwell County25,506Watauga County: 25,106 jobsWatauga County25,106Carteret County: 25,022 jobsCarteret County25,022Rockingham County: 24,908 jobsRockingham County24,908Mecklenburg County: 788,436 jobsMecklenburg County788,436Wake County: 653,153 jobsWake County653,153Guilford County: 287,996 jobsGuilford County287,996Durham County: 236,749 jobsDurham County236,749Forsyth County: 192,587 jobsForsyth County192,587Buncombe County: 136,495 jobsBuncombe County136,495New Hanover County: 130,464 jobsNew Hanover County130,464Cumberland County: 122,995 jobsCumberland County122,995Catawba County: 89,388 jobsCatawba County89,388Cabarrus County: 87,725 jobsCabarrus County87,725Pitt County: 81,371 jobsPitt County81,371Iredell County: 81,195 jobsIredell County81,195Gaston County: 79,486 jobsGaston County79,486Orange County: 78,431 jobsOrange County78,431Union County: 74,299 jobsUnion County74,299Alamance County: 67,668 jobsAlamance County67,668Johnston County: 61,005 jobsJohnston County61,005Onslow County: 54,121 jobsOnslow County54,121Rowan County: 50,595 jobsRowan County50,595Davidson County: 46,653 jobsDavidson County46,653Henderson County: 44,207 jobsHenderson County44,207Randolph County: 44,093 jobsRandolph County44,093Wayne County: 41,880 jobsWayne County41,880Brunswick County: 41,268 jobsBrunswick County41,268Craven County: 40,890 jobsCraven County40,890Moore County: 40,121 jobsMoore County40,121Nash County: 39,498 jobsNash County39,498Robeson County: 38,484 jobsRobeson County38,484Cleveland County: 36,696 jobsCleveland County36,696Wilson County: 35,117 jobsWilson County35,117Burke County: 29,553 jobsBurke County29,553Surry County: 29,147 jobsSurry County29,147Lenoir County: 29,083 jobsLenoir County29,083Lincoln County: 28,110 jobsLincoln County28,110Harnett County: 28,081 jobsHarnett County28,081Lee County: 27,674 jobsLee County27,674Caldwell County: 25,506 jobsCaldwell County25,506Watauga County: 25,106 jobsWatauga County25,106Carteret County: 25,022 jobsCarteret County25,022Rockingham County: 24,908 jobsRockingham County24,908
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

RankCounties2024
jobs		Change on 2023
1Mecklenburg County788,436+1%
2Wake County653,153+2.1%
3Guilford County287,996+0.3%
4Durham County236,749+1.5%
5Forsyth County192,587-0.1%
6Buncombe County136,495-1.3%
7New Hanover County130,464+1.1%
8Cumberland County122,995+0.4%
9Catawba County89,388-0.8%
10Cabarrus County87,725+3.2%
11Pitt County81,371+1.5%
12Iredell County81,195-1.6%
13Gaston County79,486+2.7%
14Orange County78,431+0.8%
15Union County74,299+3%
16Alamance County67,668+1.7%
17Johnston County61,005+4.1%
18Onslow County54,121+1.3%
19Rowan County50,595-0.3%
20Davidson County46,653+0.7%
21Henderson County44,207+3.7%
22Randolph County44,093+3.9%
23Wayne County41,880+1.7%
24Brunswick County41,268+4.3%
25Craven County40,890+0.2%
26Moore County40,121+4%
27Nash County39,498+0.8%
28Robeson County38,484+1%
29Cleveland County36,696+0.9%
30Wilson County35,117-1.8%
31Burke County29,553+0.2%
32Surry County29,147+1.3%
33Lenoir County29,083+0.3%
34Lincoln County28,110+2.6%
35Harnett County28,081+1.3%
36Lee County27,674+6.5%
37Caldwell County25,506+0.5%
38Watauga County25,106+0.3%
39Carteret County25,022+1.2%
40Rockingham County24,908+1.2%
41Stanly County23,093+6%
42Dare County20,359+0.8%
43Granville County20,3010%
44Duplin County19,429+0.5%
45Wilkes County18,933-0.5%
46Chatham County18,540+6.9%
47Rutherford County17,994-1.8%
48Haywood County17,4960%
49Sampson County17,090-0.3%
50Pasquotank County16,026+0.9%
51Beaufort County15,848+2%
52McDowell County15,350-1.3%
53Edgecombe County15,302+1%
54Halifax County15,156+0.2%
55Pender County14,704+3.7%
56Jackson County14,4770%
57Columbus County14,466-3.5%
58Vance County14,120-0.4%
59Richmond County14,036-1.6%
60Davie County13,854+2.6%
61Franklin County13,747+2.2%
62Bladen County13,453-1.9%
63Macon County12,334-0.8%
64Scotland County11,960+1.7%
65Swain County11,309+4.9%
66Yadkin County10,066+0.9%
67Transylvania County9,754+1.1%
68Person County9,288-2.4%
69Hoke County9,046+0.5%
70Montgomery County8,933-1.3%
71Hertford County8,625+1.1%
72Alexander County8,510-3.7%
73Cherokee County7,976-0%
74Stokes County7,708+3.4%
75Ashe County7,486+2.4%
76Currituck County7,450-1.1%
77Avery County7,186-0.3%
78Anson County6,594-1.7%
79Martin County6,150+0.4%
80Polk County5,441+0.3%
81Bertie County5,174+1.3%
82Mitchell County5,085+1.9%
83Chowan County5,071-1%
84Northampton County4,859-1.8%
85Yancey County4,648+2.8%
86Greene County4,501-0.9%
87Madison County4,310+3.1%
88Pamlico County3,692-0.1%
89Alleghany County3,434+5.9%
90Washington County3,099-0.1%
91Caswell County3,002+2.8%
92Warren County2,889-1.9%
93Perquimans County2,412+0.3%
94Clay County2,182+1.4%
95Graham County2,011+3.8%
96Hyde County1,768+1.4%
97Jones County1,678+2.1%
98Gates County1,408+0.2%
99Camden County1,270+2.8%
100Tyrrell County963+1.9%

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/2024/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), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/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), 2024. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024. 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), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024.

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), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_carolina_2024,
  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), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024. 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/2024/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), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2024/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/north-carolina-counties?period=2024.
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/2024/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 788,436 jobs in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Tyrrell County, with 963 jobs in 2024.

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