Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Jacksonville, NC had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 93 cities in 2023, at 77.7%. Pinehurst, NC had the lowest, at 44.3%. The median was 63.8% and the figure for North Carolina was 62.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest77.7Jacksonville, NC
Lowest44.3Pinehurst, NC
Median63.893 cities
North Carolina62.7History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Jacksonville, NC: 77.7 %Jacksonville, NC77.7Havelock, NC: 77 %Havelock, NC77Knightdale, NC: 76.8 %Knightdale, NC76.8Indian Trail, NC: 76 %Indian Trail, NC76Morrisville, NC: 75.3 %Morrisville, NC75.3Wendell, NC: 74.7 %Wendell, NC74.7Huntersville, NC: 74 %Huntersville, NC74Apex, NC: 73.9 %Apex, NC73.9Stallings, NC: 73 %Stallings, NC73Charlotte, NC: 72.4 %Charlotte, NC72.4Holly Springs, NC: 72.2 %Holly Springs, NC72.2Carrboro, NC: 72.2 %Carrboro, NC72.2Mount Holly, NC: 71.4 %Mount Holly, NC71.4Clayton, NC: 71.1 %Clayton, NC71.1Concord, NC: 70.6 %Concord, NC70.6Raleigh, NC: 70.5 %Raleigh, NC70.5Mooresville, NC: 70.2 %Mooresville, NC70.2Harrisburg, NC: 69.6 %Harrisburg, NC69.6Winterville, NC: 69.5 %Winterville, NC69.5Aberdeen, NC: 69.4 %Aberdeen, NC69.4Durham, NC: 69.2 %Durham, NC69.2Cary, NC: 69.2 %Cary, NC69.2Mebane, NC: 69.2 %Mebane, NC69.2Waxhaw, NC: 69 %Waxhaw, NC69Wake Forest, NC: 68.7 %Wake Forest, NC68.7Fuquay-Varina, NC: 68.7 %Fuquay-Varina, NC68.7Garner, NC: 68.3 %Garner, NC68.3Spring Lake, NC: 68.3 %Spring Lake, NC68.3Rolesville, NC: 67.6 %Rolesville, NC67.6Pineville, NC: 67.3 %Pineville, NC67.3Fayetteville, NC: 66.8 %Fayetteville, NC66.8Belmont, NC: 66.4 %Belmont, NC66.4Kernersville, NC: 65.8 %Kernersville, NC65.8Zebulon, NC: 65.8 %Zebulon, NC65.8Kannapolis, NC: 65.8 %Kannapolis, NC65.8Greensboro, NC: 65.7 %Greensboro, NC65.7Mint Hill, NC: 65.5 %Mint Hill, NC65.5Matthews, NC: 65.4 %Matthews, NC65.4Statesville, NC: 65.4 %Statesville, NC65.4Cornelius, NC: 65.3 %Cornelius, NC65.3Jacksonville, NC: 77.7 %Jacksonville, NC77.7Havelock, NC: 77 %Havelock, NC77Knightdale, NC: 76.8 %Knightdale, NC76.8Indian Trail, NC: 76 %Indian Trail, NC76Morrisville, NC: 75.3 %Morrisville, NC75.3Wendell, NC: 74.7 %Wendell, NC74.7Huntersville, NC: 74 %Huntersville, NC74Apex, NC: 73.9 %Apex, NC73.9Stallings, NC: 73 %Stallings, NC73Charlotte, NC: 72.4 %Charlotte, NC72.4Holly Springs, NC: 72.2 %Holly Springs, NC72.2Carrboro, NC: 72.2 %Carrboro, NC72.2Mount Holly, NC: 71.4 %Mount Holly, NC71.4Clayton, NC: 71.1 %Clayton, NC71.1Concord, NC: 70.6 %Concord, NC70.6Raleigh, NC: 70.5 %Raleigh, NC70.5Mooresville, NC: 70.2 %Mooresville, NC70.2Harrisburg, NC: 69.6 %Harrisburg, NC69.6Winterville, NC: 69.5 %Winterville, NC69.5Aberdeen, NC: 69.4 %Aberdeen, NC69.4Durham, NC: 69.2 %Durham, NC69.2Cary, NC: 69.2 %Cary, NC69.2Mebane, NC: 69.2 %Mebane, NC69.2Waxhaw, NC: 69 %Waxhaw, NC69Wake Forest, NC: 68.7 %Wake Forest, NC68.7Fuquay-Varina, NC: 68.7 %Fuquay-Varina, NC68.7Garner, NC: 68.3 %Garner, NC68.3Spring Lake, NC: 68.3 %Spring Lake, NC68.3Rolesville, NC: 67.6 %Rolesville, NC67.6Pineville, NC: 67.3 %Pineville, NC67.3Fayetteville, NC: 66.8 %Fayetteville, NC66.8Belmont, NC: 66.4 %Belmont, NC66.4Kernersville, NC: 65.8 %Kernersville, NC65.8Zebulon, NC: 65.8 %Zebulon, NC65.8Kannapolis, NC: 65.8 %Kannapolis, NC65.8Greensboro, NC: 65.7 %Greensboro, NC65.7Mint Hill, NC: 65.5 %Mint Hill, NC65.5Matthews, NC: 65.4 %Matthews, NC65.4Statesville, NC: 65.4 %Statesville, NC65.4Cornelius, NC: 65.3 %Cornelius, NC65.3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Jacksonville, NC77.7+0.8 pts
2Havelock, NC77+1.9 pts
3Knightdale, NC76.8-0.2 pts
4Indian Trail, NC76-0 pts
5Morrisville, NC75.3+0.7 pts
6Wendell, NC74.7+2.3 pts
7Huntersville, NC74+1.1 pts
8Apex, NC73.9+0.2 pts
9Stallings, NC73+2.1 pts
10Charlotte, NC72.4+0.4 pts
11Holly Springs, NC72.2-1.4 pts
12Carrboro, NC72.2-0.5 pts
13Mount Holly, NC71.4-0.3 pts
14Clayton, NC71.1+0.9 pts
15Concord, NC70.6+1.3 pts
16Raleigh, NC70.5+0.7 pts
17Mooresville, NC70.2+1.4 pts
18Harrisburg, NC69.6-0.4 pts
19Winterville, NC69.5+0.8 pts
20Aberdeen, NC69.4+0.6 pts
21Durham, NC69.2-0.2 pts
22Cary, NC69.2-0.9 pts
22Mebane, NC69.2+0.6 pts
24Waxhaw, NC69-1 pts
25Wake Forest, NC68.7-1.4 pts
26Fuquay-Varina, NC68.7+0.6 pts
27Garner, NC68.3-0.9 pts
28Spring Lake, NC68.3+1.4 pts
29Rolesville, NC67.6-0.2 pts
30Pineville, NC67.3+1.6 pts
31Fayetteville, NC66.8+0.4 pts
32Belmont, NC66.4+0.7 pts
33Kernersville, NC65.8-0.2 pts
34Zebulon, NC65.8+5.3 pts
35Kannapolis, NC65.8+0.5 pts
36Greensboro, NC65.7+0.4 pts
37Mint Hill, NC65.5+0.6 pts
38Matthews, NC65.4-1.7 pts
39Statesville, NC65.4+1 pts
40Cornelius, NC65.3-0.3 pts
41Weddington, NC65.1-0.5 pts
42Summerfield, NC64.9+2.3 pts
43Wilmington, NC64.8+0.6 pts
44Greenville, NC64.8+0.3 pts
45Gastonia, NC64.5+0.3 pts
46Lewisville, NC64.3-1.9 pts
47Graham, NC63.8+2.8 pts
47Monroe, NC63.8-0.8 pts
49Asheville, NC63.1-0.3 pts
50Burlington, NC63.1-0.7 pts
51Archdale, NC62.9-0.9 pts
52Clemmons, NC62.7+1.4 pts
53Sanford, NC62.6-0.6 pts
54High Point, NC61.9-0.8 pts
55Davidson, NC61.8+0.3 pts
56Winston-Salem, NC61.8+0.2 pts
57Hope Mills, NC61.7-1 pts
58New Bern, NC60.1+0.5 pts
59Eden, NC59.9+3.8 pts
60Hickory, NC59.7-0 pts
60Newton, NC59.7+2.7 pts
62Morehead City, NC59.7+2.3 pts
63Thomasville, NC59.5+0.9 pts
64Elizabeth City, NC59.4+0.1 pts
65Asheboro, NC59.3+1.5 pts
66Kings Mountain, NC58.7-2.4 pts
67Rocky Mount, NC58.5-0.9 pts
68Wilson, NC58.5-1.7 pts
69Goldsboro, NC58.2-0.5 pts
70Chapel Hill, NC57.6-0.6 pts
71Lincolnton, NC57.5-1 pts
72Southern Pines, NC57.3-1.7 pts
73Henderson, NC57.2-0.2 pts
74Salisbury, NC56.6-0.5 pts
75Leland, NC56.5+1.7 pts
76Lexington, NC56.3+1.4 pts
77Morganton, NC56.1+0.8 pts
77Roanoke Rapids, NC56.1+0.4 pts
79Shelby, NC56+0.6 pts
80Waynesville, NC55.8-0.6 pts
81Albemarle, NC55.6-2.6 pts
82Lenoir, NC54.7+0.8 pts
83Boone, NC54.3+0.7 pts
84Hendersonville, NC53.90 pts
85Reidsville, NC52.9+3.5 pts
86Laurinburg, NC52.9+1.2 pts
87Tarboro, NC52.8+2.5 pts
88Mount Airy, NC52.1+2.5 pts
89Kinston, NC50.6+1.6 pts
90Lumberton, NC50.3+0.8 pts
91Smithfield, NC46.8-1.8 pts
92Elon, NC44.7-0.7 pts
93Pinehurst, NC44.3-0.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

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

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. 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. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Jacksonville, NC, with 77.7% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Pinehurst, NC, with 44.3% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings