Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January 2024. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent while Greene County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.0 percent while Asheville had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.6 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 90 | 10 | 0 |
| December (revised) | 96 | 4 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 80 counties, increased in eight, and remained unchanged in 12. Fourteen metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year and one remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in January by 13,222 to 5,047,774, while those unemployed increased by 21,136 to 189,783. Since January 2023, the number of workers employed statewide increased 77,336, while those unemployed decreased 4,861.
It is important to note that employment estimates are subject to large seasonal patterns; therefore, it is advisable to focus on over-the-year changes in the not seasonally adjusted estimates.
The next unemployment update is scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2024 when the statewide unemployment rate for February 2024 will be released.
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Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is available via a live online dashboard.