Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 13.3 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.4 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount at 6.0 percent had the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.6 percent. The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.5 percent.
| Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% | |
| January | 60 | 39 | 1 |
| December | 84 | 16 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 67 counties, increased in 17, and remained unchanged in 16. Nine metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year, one increased, and five remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in January by 13,492 to 4,767,612, while those unemployed increased 40,189 to 225,345. Since January 2018, the number of workers employed statewide increased 77,071, while those unemployed decreased 7,482.
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, 2019 when the state unemployment rate for February 2019 will be released.