Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 counties in April 2025. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 4.9 percent while Currituck and Camden Counties each had the lowest at 2.7 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.5 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 2.9 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| March (revised) | 92 | 8 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 87 counties, decreased in five, and remained unchanged in eight. Fourteen metro areas experienced rate increases over the year and one remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in April by 347 to 5,106,110, while those unemployed decreased by 14,207 to 180,760. Since April 2024, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 10,602, while those unemployed increased 14,194.
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 Tuesday, June 24, 2025 when the statewide unemployment rate for May 2025 will be released.
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Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is now available via a live online dashboard. The PDF attached to this release does contain additional charts and tables for today's data. Contact Commerce Communications for further information .