Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate

Rocky Mount, NC had the highest unemployment rate of 44 cities in September 2025, at 6.1%. Morrisville, NC had the lowest, at 2.8%. The median was 3.75% and the figure for North Carolina was 3.9%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest6.1Rocky Mount, NC
Lowest2.8Morrisville, NC
Median3.7544 cities
North Carolina3.9History

All cities, September 2025

Rocky Mount, NC: 6.1 %Rocky Mount, NC6.1Wilson, NC: 5.4 %Wilson, NC5.4Salisbury, NC: 5.3 %Salisbury, NC5.3Kinston, NC: 5.1 %Kinston, NC5.1Fayetteville, NC: 5 %Fayetteville, NC5Jacksonville, NC: 4.9 %Jacksonville, NC4.9Goldsboro, NC: 4.7 %Goldsboro, NC4.7Statesville, NC: 4.7 %Statesville, NC4.7Greenville, NC: 4.4 %Greenville, NC4.4High Point, NC: 4.4 %High Point, NC4.4Gastonia, NC: 4.3 %Gastonia, NC4.3Greensboro, NC: 4.3 %Greensboro, NC4.3Thomasville, NC: 4.3 %Thomasville, NC4.3Sanford, NC: 4.1 %Sanford, NC4.1Winston-Salem, NC: 4.1 %Winston-Salem, NC4.1Asheville, NC: 4 %Asheville, NC4Burlington, NC: 4 %Burlington, NC4Monroe, NC: 4 %Monroe, NC4Chapel Hill, NC: 3.9 %Chapel Hill, NC3.9Charlotte, NC: 3.9 %Charlotte, NC3.9Hickory, NC: 3.8 %Hickory, NC3.8Kannapolis, NC: 3.8 %Kannapolis, NC3.8Asheboro, NC: 3.7 %Asheboro, NC3.7Concord, NC: 3.6 %Concord, NC3.6Mint Hill, NC: 3.6 %Mint Hill, NC3.6Leland, NC: 3.5 %Leland, NC3.5Mooresville, NC: 3.5 %Mooresville, NC3.5Durham, NC: 3.4 %Durham, NC3.4Garner, NC: 3.4 %Garner, NC3.4Huntersville, NC: 3.4 %Huntersville, NC3.4Kernersville, NC: 3.4 %Kernersville, NC3.4New Bern, NC: 3.4 %New Bern, NC3.4Wilmington, NC: 3.4 %Wilmington, NC3.4Cornelius, NC: 3.3 %Cornelius, NC3.3Wake Forest, NC: 3.3 %Wake Forest, NC3.3Clayton, NC: 3.2 %Clayton, NC3.2Indian Trail, NC: 3.2 %Indian Trail, NC3.2Raleigh, NC: 3.2 %Raleigh, NC3.2Fuquay-Varina, NC: 3.1 %Fuquay-Varina, NC3.1Matthews, NC: 3.1 %Matthews, NC3.1Apex, NC: 3 %Apex, NC3Cary, NC: 3 %Cary, NC3Holly Springs, NC: 2.9 %Holly Springs, NC2.9Morrisville, NC: 2.8 %Morrisville, NC2.8Rocky Mount, NC: 6.1 %Rocky Mount, NC6.1Wilson, NC: 5.4 %Wilson, NC5.4Salisbury, NC: 5.3 %Salisbury, NC5.3Kinston, NC: 5.1 %Kinston, NC5.1Fayetteville, NC: 5 %Fayetteville, NC5Jacksonville, NC: 4.9 %Jacksonville, NC4.9Goldsboro, NC: 4.7 %Goldsboro, NC4.7Statesville, NC: 4.7 %Statesville, NC4.7Greenville, NC: 4.4 %Greenville, NC4.4High Point, NC: 4.4 %High Point, NC4.4Gastonia, NC: 4.3 %Gastonia, NC4.3Greensboro, NC: 4.3 %Greensboro, NC4.3Thomasville, NC: 4.3 %Thomasville, NC4.3Sanford, NC: 4.1 %Sanford, NC4.1Winston-Salem, NC: 4.1 %Winston-Salem, NC4.1Asheville, NC: 4 %Asheville, NC4Burlington, NC: 4 %Burlington, NC4Monroe, NC: 4 %Monroe, NC4Chapel Hill, NC: 3.9 %Chapel Hill, NC3.9Charlotte, NC: 3.9 %Charlotte, NC3.9Hickory, NC: 3.8 %Hickory, NC3.8Kannapolis, NC: 3.8 %Kannapolis, NC3.8Asheboro, NC: 3.7 %Asheboro, NC3.7Concord, NC: 3.6 %Concord, NC3.6Mint Hill, NC: 3.6 %Mint Hill, NC3.6Leland, NC: 3.5 %Leland, NC3.5Mooresville, NC: 3.5 %Mooresville, NC3.5Durham, NC: 3.4 %Durham, NC3.4Garner, NC: 3.4 %Garner, NC3.4Huntersville, NC: 3.4 %Huntersville, NC3.4Kernersville, NC: 3.4 %Kernersville, NC3.4New Bern, NC: 3.4 %New Bern, NC3.4Wilmington, NC: 3.4 %Wilmington, NC3.4Cornelius, NC: 3.3 %Cornelius, NC3.3Wake Forest, NC: 3.3 %Wake Forest, NC3.3Clayton, NC: 3.2 %Clayton, NC3.2Indian Trail, NC: 3.2 %Indian Trail, NC3.2Raleigh, NC: 3.2 %Raleigh, NC3.2Fuquay-Varina, NC: 3.1 %Fuquay-Varina, NC3.1Matthews, NC: 3.1 %Matthews, NC3.1Apex, NC: 3 %Apex, NC3Cary, NC: 3 %Cary, NC3Holly Springs, NC: 2.9 %Holly Springs, NC2.9Morrisville, NC: 2.8 %Morrisville, NC2.8
%. Source: BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCitiesSeptember 2025 (%)Change on September 2024
1Rocky Mount, NC6.1+0.7 pts
2Wilson, NC5.4+0.2 pts
3Salisbury, NC5.3+1.7 pts
4Kinston, NC5.1+0.1 pts
5Fayetteville, NC5+0.6 pts
6Jacksonville, NC4.9+0.5 pts
7Goldsboro, NC4.7+0.2 pts
7Statesville, NC4.7+0.9 pts
9Greenville, NC4.4+0.4 pts
9High Point, NC4.4+0.5 pts
11Gastonia, NC4.3+0.7 pts
11Greensboro, NC4.3+0.3 pts
11Thomasville, NC4.3+0.7 pts
14Sanford, NC4.1+0.8 pts
14Winston-Salem, NC4.1+0.5 pts
16Asheville, NC4+1.3 pts
16Burlington, NC4+0.5 pts
16Monroe, NC4+0.6 pts
19Chapel Hill, NC3.9+0.7 pts
19Charlotte, NC3.9+0.5 pts
21Hickory, NC3.8+0.5 pts
21Kannapolis, NC3.8+0.5 pts
23Asheboro, NC3.7+0.5 pts
24Concord, NC3.6+0.4 pts
24Mint Hill, NC3.6+0.5 pts
26Leland, NC3.5+0.3 pts
26Mooresville, NC3.5+0.5 pts
28Durham, NC3.4+0.6 pts
28Garner, NC3.4+0.3 pts
28Huntersville, NC3.4+0.4 pts
28Kernersville, NC3.4+0.4 pts
28New Bern, NC3.4+0.3 pts
28Wilmington, NC3.4+0.3 pts
34Cornelius, NC3.3+0.5 pts
34Wake Forest, NC3.3+0.4 pts
36Clayton, NC3.2+0.1 pts
36Indian Trail, NC3.2+0.2 pts
36Raleigh, NC3.2+0.2 pts
39Fuquay-Varina, NC3.10 pts
39Matthews, NC3.1+0.1 pts
41Apex, NC3+0.3 pts
41Cary, NC3+0.2 pts
43Holly Springs, NC2.9+0.1 pts
44Morrisville, NC2.8+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force, using the survey definition of unemployment: without work, available and looking for work.

More on how it is measured
  • Spain: EPA, aged 16 and over.
  • EU: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74.
  • United States: civilian labour force aged 16 and over, from the Current Population Survey for the nation and from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics models, consistent with that survey, for states, counties and cities.
  • United Kingdom regions: Labour Force Survey, aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted.
  • Canada: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the country and the provinces.
  • Australia: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted, for the nation and the six states; the ABS publishes no seasonally adjusted series for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
  • New Zealand: Household Labour Force Survey, aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted for the country and not seasonally adjusted for regional council areas.
  • Norway: Statistics Norway Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted monthly figures.
  • Sweden: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74, seasonally adjusted and smoothed (the series Statistics Sweden gives in its monthly release), national.
  • Switzerland: Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS), ILO definition, permanent resident population aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted quarterly averages, national.
  • For other countries, the source may be OECD survey-based rates, annual survey-based rates compiled by the ILO in ILOSTAT, or annual ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank.
  • ILO modelled estimates cover ages 15 and over.
  • The World series uses those ILO modelled estimates.

Survey-based for national and Eurostat series. Available for Spain, regions, provinces, EU countries, US states, US counties, US cities (those of 25,000 or more and smaller New England cities), United Kingdom regions, Canadian provinces, Australia and its six states, New Zealand with 10 of its regions, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (national), not Spanish municipalities. For Spanish municipalities use registered_unemployment_rate.

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. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. 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). Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03) (Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29

MLA 9

Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30 Sept. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03), Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_cities_in_north_carolina_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03): Cities in North Carolina by unemployment rate, 2025-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate/north-carolina-cities?period=2025-09.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which city has the highest unemployment rate?

Rocky Mount, NC, with 6.1% in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?

Morrisville, NC, with 2.8% in September 2025.

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, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate: other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings