Unemployment rates in North Carolina decreased in 99 counties and increased in one during December 2025, according to the latest data released by the state. Edgecombe County recorded the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent, while Stanly County had the lowest at 2.6 percent. All fifteen metropolitan areas across the state saw decreases in their unemployment rates for the month.
Among metro areas, Rocky Mount reported the highest unemployment rate at 4.8 percent, with Raleigh posting the lowest at 3.0 percent. The statewide not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.4 percent.
In December, there were no counties with an unemployment rate above 10 percent; three counties reported rates between five and ten percent, and ninety-seven counties had rates of five percent or below. This marks a shift from November when sixteen counties fell into the five to ten percent range.
Compared to December of last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates rose in sixty-five counties, dropped in twenty-four, and remained unchanged in eleven others. Over that same period, thirteen metro areas experienced increases in their jobless rates while two saw declines.
The number of employed workers across North Carolina grew by 36,570 during December to reach a total of 5,108,591 people employed statewide. Meanwhile, those classified as unemployed dropped by 39,163 to a total of 181,301 individuals without work for that month. Since December 2024, employment numbers have increased by more than forty-one thousand statewide; however, there has also been an increase of just over three thousand unemployed persons during that time.
Officials noted that employment estimates can be affected by seasonal patterns and recommended focusing on year-over-year changes when interpreting not seasonally adjusted figures.
Supplemental data related to these findings is available through a live online dashboard.
