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

Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Washington County had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 100 counties in 2022, at 12.7%. Madison County had the lowest, at 1.7%. The median was 5.3% and the figure for North Carolina was 5.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest12.7Washington County
Lowest1.7Madison County
Median5.3100 counties
North Carolina5.1History

Map of counties, 2022

Alamance County: 5 %Alexander County: 5.6 %Alleghany County: 5.3 %Anson County: 6.4 %Ashe County: 5.1 %Avery County: 5 %Beaufort County: 5.6 %Bertie County: 6.4 %Bladen County: 5.5 %Brunswick County: 5 %Buncombe County: 3.6 %Burke County: 6 %Cabarrus County: 4.9 %Caldwell County: 5.8 %Camden County: 5.7 %Carteret County: 4.9 %Caswell County: 6 %Catawba County: 5.1 %Chatham County: 2.8 %Cherokee County: 4.9 %Chowan County: 4.3 %Clay County: 4 %Cleveland County: 6.4 %Columbus County: 5.8 %Craven County: 5.1 %Cumberland County: 7.9 %Currituck County: 3.2 %Dare County: 5.1 %Davidson County: 4.3 %Davie County: 4.6 %Duplin County: 5.4 %Durham County: 4.3 %Edgecombe County: 8.6 %Forsyth County: 5.6 %Franklin County: 5.9 %Gaston County: 5 %Gates County: 9.3 %Graham County: 7.7 %Granville County: 4.7 %Greene County: 5.5 %Guilford County: 5.2 %Halifax County: 9.3 %Harnett County: 5.3 %Haywood County: 3.5 %Henderson County: 3.5 %Hertford County: 7.2 %Hoke County: 6.4 %Hyde County: 8.7 %Iredell County: 4.6 %Jackson County: 6 %Johnston County: 3.7 %Jones County: 4.8 %Lee County: 5.2 %Lenoir County: 7.2 %Lincoln County: 4.4 %McDowell County: 5.5 %Macon County: 3.5 %Madison County: 1.7 %Martin County: 9.7 %Mecklenburg County: 4.5 %Mitchell County: 6.4 %Montgomery County: 3.1 %Moore County: 4.6 %Nash County: 6.4 %New Hanover County: 4.8 %Northampton County: 7.6 %Onslow County: 6.4 %Orange County: 3.9 %Pamlico County: 4.7 %Pasquotank County: 5.8 %Pender County: 6.4 %Perquimans County: 5 %Person County: 3.7 %Pitt County: 7.5 %Polk County: 4.3 %Randolph County: 3.9 %Richmond County: 9.6 %Robeson County: 6.4 %Rockingham County: 6.5 %Rowan County: 6.3 %Rutherford County: 6 %Sampson County: 5.7 %Scotland County: 10.8 %Stanly County: 4.3 %Stokes County: 5.3 %Surry County: 4.9 %Swain County: 7.5 %Transylvania County: 4 %Tyrrell County: 3.9 %Union County: 4.3 %Vance County: 7 %Wake County: 4.2 %Warren County: 9.9 %Washington County: 12.7 %Watauga County: 9.3 %Wayne County: 5 %Wilkes County: 6 %Wilson County: 6.6 %Yadkin County: 5.2 %Yancey County: 7.6 %
  • Under 4.3
  • 4.3 to 4.9
  • 4.9 to 5.3
  • 5.3 to 6
  • 6 to 7.2
  • 7.2 and over
%, 2022. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2022

Washington County: 12.7 %Washington County12.7Scotland County: 10.8 %Scotland County10.8Warren County: 9.9 %Warren County9.9Martin County: 9.7 %Martin County9.7Richmond County: 9.6 %Richmond County9.6Watauga County: 9.3 %Watauga County9.3Halifax County: 9.3 %Halifax County9.3Gates County: 9.3 %Gates County9.3Hyde County: 8.7 %Hyde County8.7Edgecombe County: 8.6 %Edgecombe County8.6Cumberland County: 7.9 %Cumberland County7.9Graham County: 7.7 %Graham County7.7Northampton County: 7.6 %Northampton County7.6Yancey County: 7.6 %Yancey County7.6Swain County: 7.5 %Swain County7.5Pitt County: 7.5 %Pitt County7.5Hertford County: 7.2 %Hertford County7.2Lenoir County: 7.2 %Lenoir County7.2Vance County: 7 %Vance County7Wilson County: 6.6 %Wilson County6.6Rockingham County: 6.5 %Rockingham County6.5Nash County: 6.4 %Nash County6.4Anson County: 6.4 %Anson County6.4Cleveland County: 6.4 %Cleveland County6.4Onslow County: 6.4 %Onslow County6.4Pender County: 6.4 %Pender County6.4Bertie County: 6.4 %Bertie County6.4Hoke County: 6.4 %Hoke County6.4Mitchell County: 6.4 %Mitchell County6.4Robeson County: 6.4 %Robeson County6.4Rowan County: 6.3 %Rowan County6.3Burke County: 6 %Burke County6Rutherford County: 6 %Rutherford County6Wilkes County: 6 %Wilkes County6Caswell County: 6 %Caswell County6Jackson County: 6 %Jackson County6Franklin County: 5.9 %Franklin County5.9Caldwell County: 5.8 %Caldwell County5.8Columbus County: 5.8 %Columbus County5.8Pasquotank County: 5.8 %Pasquotank County5.8Washington County: 12.7 %Washington County12.7Scotland County: 10.8 %Scotland County10.8Warren County: 9.9 %Warren County9.9Martin County: 9.7 %Martin County9.7Richmond County: 9.6 %Richmond County9.6Watauga County: 9.3 %Watauga County9.3Halifax County: 9.3 %Halifax County9.3Gates County: 9.3 %Gates County9.3Hyde County: 8.7 %Hyde County8.7Edgecombe County: 8.6 %Edgecombe County8.6Cumberland County: 7.9 %Cumberland County7.9Graham County: 7.7 %Graham County7.7Northampton County: 7.6 %Northampton County7.6Yancey County: 7.6 %Yancey County7.6Swain County: 7.5 %Swain County7.5Pitt County: 7.5 %Pitt County7.5Hertford County: 7.2 %Hertford County7.2Lenoir County: 7.2 %Lenoir County7.2Vance County: 7 %Vance County7Wilson County: 6.6 %Wilson County6.6Rockingham County: 6.5 %Rockingham County6.5Nash County: 6.4 %Nash County6.4Anson County: 6.4 %Anson County6.4Cleveland County: 6.4 %Cleveland County6.4Onslow County: 6.4 %Onslow County6.4Pender County: 6.4 %Pender County6.4Bertie County: 6.4 %Bertie County6.4Hoke County: 6.4 %Hoke County6.4Mitchell County: 6.4 %Mitchell County6.4Robeson County: 6.4 %Robeson County6.4Rowan County: 6.3 %Rowan County6.3Burke County: 6 %Burke County6Rutherford County: 6 %Rutherford County6Wilkes County: 6 %Wilkes County6Caswell County: 6 %Caswell County6Jackson County: 6 %Jackson County6Franklin County: 5.9 %Franklin County5.9Caldwell County: 5.8 %Caldwell County5.8Columbus County: 5.8 %Columbus County5.8Pasquotank County: 5.8 %Pasquotank County5.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Washington County12.7+3.5 pts
2Scotland County10.8-0.5 pts
3Warren County9.9+0.7 pts
4Martin County9.7-0.8 pts
5Richmond County9.6+0.7 pts
6Watauga County9.3+0.5 pts
7Halifax County9.3+0.8 pts
8Gates County9.3-0.5 pts
9Hyde County8.7+1.9 pts
10Edgecombe County8.6-0.7 pts
11Cumberland County7.9-0.1 pts
12Graham County7.7+1.7 pts
13Northampton County7.60 pts
14Yancey County7.6-0.3 pts
15Swain County7.5-0.2 pts
16Pitt County7.5+0.1 pts
17Hertford County7.2-1.3 pts
18Lenoir County7.2-2.2 pts
19Vance County7+0.4 pts
20Wilson County6.6-1.6 pts
21Rockingham County6.5-0.2 pts
22Nash County6.4-0.6 pts
23Anson County6.4-0.9 pts
23Cleveland County6.4-0.7 pts
23Onslow County6.4-0.5 pts
23Pender County6.4-0.7 pts
27Bertie County6.4-0.8 pts
28Hoke County6.4-1.1 pts
29Mitchell County6.4-0 pts
29Robeson County6.4-0.3 pts
31Rowan County6.3-0.8 pts
32Burke County6-0.1 pts
33Rutherford County6-0.1 pts
34Wilkes County6+0.1 pts
35Caswell County6+0.2 pts
35Jackson County6-0.8 pts
37Franklin County5.9-0.6 pts
38Caldwell County5.80 pts
38Columbus County5.8+0.5 pts
38Pasquotank County5.8+0.6 pts
41Sampson County5.7-1 pts
42Camden County5.7-0 pts
43Beaufort County5.6-1.1 pts
44Alexander County5.6+0.8 pts
44Forsyth County5.6+0.3 pts
46McDowell County5.5-0.8 pts
47Greene County5.5-1.4 pts
48Bladen County5.5-0.5 pts
49Duplin County5.4-1.8 pts
50Stokes County5.3-0 pts
51Alleghany County5.3+0.8 pts
52Harnett County5.3-0.9 pts
53Yadkin County5.2+0.4 pts
54Guilford County5.2-0.3 pts
55Lee County5.2-0 pts
56Catawba County5.1-0.7 pts
57Ashe County5.1-0 pts
57Dare County5.1-1 pts
59Craven County5.1-0.6 pts
60Perquimans County5-0.1 pts
61Avery County5-0.7 pts
62Brunswick County5-0.5 pts
62Wayne County5+0.5 pts
64Alamance County5-0.1 pts
65Gaston County5-0.4 pts
66Cherokee County4.9+0.3 pts
67Cabarrus County4.9-0.2 pts
68Carteret County4.9-0.2 pts
69Surry County4.9+0.3 pts
70Jones County4.8-1.6 pts
70New Hanover County4.8-0.2 pts
72Granville County4.7-0.5 pts
72Pamlico County4.7-0.9 pts
74Iredell County4.6-0.2 pts
75Moore County4.6+0.2 pts
76Davie County4.6-0.3 pts
77Mecklenburg County4.5-0.1 pts
78Lincoln County4.4-0.1 pts
79Stanly County4.3-0.4 pts
80Davidson County4.3-1 pts
81Chowan County4.3-1.4 pts
82Durham County4.3-0.4 pts
83Polk County4.3+0.5 pts
83Union County4.3-0.3 pts
85Wake County4.2-0.2 pts
86Transylvania County4-0.9 pts
87Clay County4+0.8 pts
88Randolph County3.9-0.7 pts
89Tyrrell County3.9+0.3 pts
90Orange County3.9-0.5 pts
91Person County3.7-1.5 pts
92Johnston County3.7-0.5 pts
93Buncombe County3.6+0.2 pts
94Henderson County3.5-0.3 pts
95Haywood County3.5-0 pts
96Macon County3.5-0.8 pts
97Currituck County3.2+0.7 pts
98Montgomery County3.1-0.3 pts
99Chatham County2.8-0.7 pts
100Madison County1.7-1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

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: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-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: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in North Carolina by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-carolina-counties?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Washington County, with 12.7% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Madison County, with 1.7% in 2022.

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: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings