Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 98 counties in September 2025, increased in one, and remained unchanged in one. Halifax County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent while Currituck County 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 5.1 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.7 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 96 | 4 | 0 |
| August (revised) | 87 | 13 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in all 100 counties. All fifteen metro areas experienced rate increases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in September by 63,516 to 5,117,735, while those unemployed decreased by 16,570 to 196,136. Since September 2024, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 5,129, while those unemployed increased 24,550.
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 Wednesday, January 7, 2026 when the statewide unemployment rate for November 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 .