Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in September. Scotland County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 2.4 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 4.6 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 2.5 percent. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.1 percent.
| Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% | |
| September | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| August (revised) | 81 | 19 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All 15 metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in September by 37,135 to 4,802,395, while those unemployed decreased 42,173 to 152,408. Since September 2017, the number of workers employed statewide increased 24,079, while those unemployed decreased 58,899.
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, November 16, 2018 when the state unemployment rate for October 2018 will be released..