Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties in January. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 14.2 percent, while Buncombe County had the lowest at 3.2 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Fayetteville had the highest rate at 5.3 percent and Asheville had the lowest rate at 3.4 percent. The January not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.1 percent.
| Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% | |
| January | 72 | 27 | 1 |
| December (revised) | 92 | 7 | 1 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 91 counties, increased in five, and remained unchanged in four. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in January by 23,495 to 4,879,077, while those unemployed increased by 38,416 to 206,671. Since January 2019, the number of workers employed statewide increased 89,878, while those unemployed decreased 17,845.
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 27, 2020 when the state unemployment rate for February 2020 will be released.