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

Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Mecklenburg County had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 100 counties in 2024, at 72%. Pamlico County had the lowest, at 43.1%. The median was 57.1% and the figure for North Carolina was 62.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest72Mecklenburg County
Lowest43.1Pamlico County
Median57.1100 counties
North Carolina62.8History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 63.3 %Alexander County: 56.3 %Alleghany County: 47.5 %Anson County: 51.5 %Ashe County: 52.7 %Avery County: 47.3 %Beaufort County: 55.2 %Bertie County: 45.8 %Bladen County: 49.5 %Brunswick County: 49.1 %Buncombe County: 59.1 %Burke County: 57.7 %Cabarrus County: 68.4 %Caldwell County: 58.4 %Camden County: 67.4 %Carteret County: 55 %Caswell County: 51.2 %Catawba County: 60.3 %Chatham County: 58.6 %Cherokee County: 49.3 %Chowan County: 55.9 %Clay County: 45.4 %Cleveland County: 58.7 %Columbus County: 50.6 %Craven County: 58.7 %Cumberland County: 64.6 %Currituck County: 66.6 %Dare County: 64 %Davidson County: 59.9 %Davie County: 59.4 %Duplin County: 59.3 %Durham County: 67.7 %Edgecombe County: 58.3 %Forsyth County: 62.2 %Franklin County: 61.8 %Gaston County: 62.6 %Gates County: 55.8 %Graham County: 50.9 %Granville County: 54.2 %Greene County: 51.4 %Guilford County: 64.1 %Halifax County: 51.9 %Harnett County: 59.8 %Haywood County: 56 %Henderson County: 57.2 %Hertford County: 51.3 %Hoke County: 60 %Hyde County: 45.1 %Iredell County: 64.8 %Jackson County: 55.9 %Johnston County: 66.2 %Jones County: 54.8 %Lee County: 60.8 %Lenoir County: 56.3 %Lincoln County: 60.9 %McDowell County: 54.5 %Macon County: 53.3 %Madison County: 55.5 %Martin County: 56.7 %Mecklenburg County: 72 %Mitchell County: 56.2 %Montgomery County: 53.3 %Moore County: 57.2 %Nash County: 59.5 %New Hanover County: 65.7 %Northampton County: 52.3 %Onslow County: 70 %Orange County: 61.8 %Pamlico County: 43.1 %Pasquotank County: 59 %Pender County: 60.9 %Perquimans County: 51.5 %Person County: 60.2 %Pitt County: 62.8 %Polk County: 53.8 %Randolph County: 60.5 %Richmond County: 57.3 %Robeson County: 50.9 %Rockingham County: 56.6 %Rowan County: 60 %Rutherford County: 54.9 %Sampson County: 56.4 %Scotland County: 52.9 %Stanly County: 58.4 %Stokes County: 54.9 %Surry County: 57.1 %Swain County: 57 %Transylvania County: 49 %Tyrrell County: 43.1 %Union County: 67.7 %Vance County: 58.5 %Wake County: 69.8 %Warren County: 49.7 %Washington County: 45 %Watauga County: 59 %Wayne County: 61.2 %Wilkes County: 55.7 %Wilson County: 57.6 %Yadkin County: 58.6 %Yancey County: 54.4 %
  • Under 51
  • 51 to 55
  • 55 to 57
  • 57 to 59
  • 59 to 62
  • 62 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Mecklenburg County: 72 %Mecklenburg County72Onslow County: 70 %Onslow County70Wake County: 69.8 %Wake County69.8Cabarrus County: 68.4 %Cabarrus County68.4Union County: 67.7 %Union County67.7Durham County: 67.7 %Durham County67.7Camden County: 67.4 %Camden County67.4Currituck County: 66.6 %Currituck County66.6Johnston County: 66.2 %Johnston County66.2New Hanover County: 65.7 %New Hanover County65.7Iredell County: 64.8 %Iredell County64.8Cumberland County: 64.6 %Cumberland County64.6Guilford County: 64.1 %Guilford County64.1Dare County: 64 %Dare County64Alamance County: 63.3 %Alamance County63.3Pitt County: 62.8 %Pitt County62.8Gaston County: 62.6 %Gaston County62.6Forsyth County: 62.2 %Forsyth County62.2Orange County: 61.8 %Orange County61.8Franklin County: 61.8 %Franklin County61.8Wayne County: 61.2 %Wayne County61.2Pender County: 60.9 %Pender County60.9Lincoln County: 60.9 %Lincoln County60.9Lee County: 60.8 %Lee County60.8Randolph County: 60.5 %Randolph County60.5Catawba County: 60.3 %Catawba County60.3Person County: 60.2 %Person County60.2Hoke County: 60 %Hoke County60Rowan County: 60 %Rowan County60Davidson County: 59.9 %Davidson County59.9Harnett County: 59.8 %Harnett County59.8Nash County: 59.5 %Nash County59.5Davie County: 59.4 %Davie County59.4Duplin County: 59.3 %Duplin County59.3Buncombe County: 59.1 %Buncombe County59.1Pasquotank County: 59 %Pasquotank County59Watauga County: 59 %Watauga County59Craven County: 58.7 %Craven County58.7Cleveland County: 58.7 %Cleveland County58.7Yadkin County: 58.6 %Yadkin County58.6Mecklenburg County: 72 %Mecklenburg County72Onslow County: 70 %Onslow County70Wake County: 69.8 %Wake County69.8Cabarrus County: 68.4 %Cabarrus County68.4Union County: 67.7 %Union County67.7Durham County: 67.7 %Durham County67.7Camden County: 67.4 %Camden County67.4Currituck County: 66.6 %Currituck County66.6Johnston County: 66.2 %Johnston County66.2New Hanover County: 65.7 %New Hanover County65.7Iredell County: 64.8 %Iredell County64.8Cumberland County: 64.6 %Cumberland County64.6Guilford County: 64.1 %Guilford County64.1Dare County: 64 %Dare County64Alamance County: 63.3 %Alamance County63.3Pitt County: 62.8 %Pitt County62.8Gaston County: 62.6 %Gaston County62.6Forsyth County: 62.2 %Forsyth County62.2Orange County: 61.8 %Orange County61.8Franklin County: 61.8 %Franklin County61.8Wayne County: 61.2 %Wayne County61.2Pender County: 60.9 %Pender County60.9Lincoln County: 60.9 %Lincoln County60.9Lee County: 60.8 %Lee County60.8Randolph County: 60.5 %Randolph County60.5Catawba County: 60.3 %Catawba County60.3Person County: 60.2 %Person County60.2Hoke County: 60 %Hoke County60Rowan County: 60 %Rowan County60Davidson County: 59.9 %Davidson County59.9Harnett County: 59.8 %Harnett County59.8Nash County: 59.5 %Nash County59.5Davie County: 59.4 %Davie County59.4Duplin County: 59.3 %Duplin County59.3Buncombe County: 59.1 %Buncombe County59.1Pasquotank County: 59 %Pasquotank County59Watauga County: 59 %Watauga County59Craven County: 58.7 %Craven County58.7Cleveland County: 58.7 %Cleveland County58.7Yadkin County: 58.6 %Yadkin County58.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Mecklenburg County72+0.2 pts
2Onslow County70-0.2 pts
3Wake County69.8-0.1 pts
4Cabarrus County68.4+0.3 pts
5Union County67.7+0.1 pts
6Durham County67.7+0.2 pts
7Camden County67.4+1.9 pts
8Currituck County66.6-0.2 pts
9Johnston County66.2+0.3 pts
10New Hanover County65.7+0.7 pts
11Iredell County64.8-0.5 pts
12Cumberland County64.6-0.3 pts
13Guilford County64.1-0.1 pts
14Dare County64-0.1 pts
15Alamance County63.3+0.1 pts
16Pitt County62.8-0.4 pts
17Gaston County62.60 pts
18Forsyth County62.2+0.1 pts
19Orange County61.8-0.1 pts
20Franklin County61.8-0.5 pts
21Wayne County61.2+0.5 pts
22Pender County60.90 pts
23Lincoln County60.9-0.9 pts
24Lee County60.8+0.2 pts
25Randolph County60.5+0.3 pts
26Catawba County60.3-1 pts
27Person County60.2-1.3 pts
28Hoke County60+1.3 pts
29Rowan County60-0.3 pts
30Davidson County59.9+0.8 pts
31Harnett County59.80 pts
32Nash County59.5+0.1 pts
33Davie County59.4+0.4 pts
34Duplin County59.3-0.3 pts
35Buncombe County59.1-0.6 pts
36Pasquotank County59-0.3 pts
37Watauga County59-1 pts
38Craven County58.7-0.2 pts
39Cleveland County58.7-0.1 pts
40Yadkin County58.6-0.2 pts
41Chatham County58.6+0.7 pts
42Vance County58.5-0.1 pts
43Stanly County58.4+0.5 pts
44Caldwell County58.4+0.1 pts
45Edgecombe County58.3+0.7 pts
46Burke County57.7+0.8 pts
47Wilson County57.6+0.4 pts
48Richmond County57.3-0.2 pts
49Moore County57.2-0 pts
50Henderson County57.20 pts
51Surry County57.1-0.8 pts
52Swain County57+1.2 pts
53Martin County56.7+0.9 pts
54Rockingham County56.6-0.8 pts
55Sampson County56.4-0.3 pts
56Alexander County56.3+0.4 pts
57Lenoir County56.3+0.7 pts
58Mitchell County56.20 pts
59Haywood County56+0.5 pts
60Chowan County55.9-0.9 pts
61Jackson County55.9-0.8 pts
62Gates County55.8-0.4 pts
63Wilkes County55.7-0.2 pts
64Madison County55.5+0.4 pts
65Beaufort County55.2-0.1 pts
66Carteret County55-0.5 pts
67Stokes County54.9-0.9 pts
68Rutherford County54.9+1 pts
69Jones County54.8+2.7 pts
70McDowell County54.5+1.3 pts
71Yancey County54.4+2.4 pts
72Granville County54.2-1.6 pts
73Polk County53.8+0.2 pts
74Macon County53.30 pts
75Montgomery County53.3+0.2 pts
76Scotland County52.9-0.5 pts
77Ashe County52.7+1.1 pts
78Northampton County52.3+1.7 pts
79Halifax County51.9+1.4 pts
80Anson County51.5+1.3 pts
81Perquimans County51.5+3.1 pts
82Greene County51.4+1 pts
83Hertford County51.3-0.6 pts
84Caswell County51.2-0.6 pts
85Robeson County50.9+0.3 pts
86Graham County50.9-2.1 pts
87Columbus County50.6+0.8 pts
88Warren County49.7-0.2 pts
89Bladen County49.5+0.4 pts
90Cherokee County49.3-0.6 pts
91Brunswick County49.1+0.3 pts
92Transylvania County49-3 pts
93Alleghany County47.5-0.3 pts
94Avery County47.3+1.1 pts
95Bertie County45.8+2.5 pts
96Clay County45.4+1.5 pts
97Hyde County45.1+3.9 pts
98Washington County45-3.7 pts
99Tyrrell County43.1-0.4 pts
100Pamlico County43.1-0.7 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 counties 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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 (Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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, Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties. 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. Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties.

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, Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2024,
  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: Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties. 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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: Counties in North Carolina by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties.
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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Mecklenburg County, with 72% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Pamlico County, with 43.1% in 2024.

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. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings