Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 counties in August 2025, decreased in two, and remained unchanged in three. Edgecombe and Halifax Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 6.1 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.5 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.0 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 87 | 13 | 0 |
| July (revised) | 91 | 9 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 61 counties, decreased in 13, and remained unchanged in 26. Twelve metro areas experienced rate increases over the year and three remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in August by 70,403 to 5,054,280, while those unemployed increased by 10,272 to 213,037. Since August 2024, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 10,117, while those unemployed increased 5,796.
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, October 21, 2025 when the statewide unemployment rate for September 2025 will be released.
###
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 .