Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 counties in January 2026. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.0 percent while Camden County had the lowest at 3.1 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.7 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.5 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.1 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 86 | 13 | 1 |
| December (revised) | 97 | 3 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 65 counties, decreased in 26, and remained unchanged in 9. Twelve metro areas experienced rate increases over the year, two decreased, and one remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in January by 76,782 to 5,036,491, while those unemployed increased by 34,788 to 214,601. Since January 2025, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 28,304, while those unemployed increased 3,965.
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, April 22, 2026 when the statewide unemployment rate for February 2026 will be released.
###
Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is now available via a live online dashboard. The PDF version of this supplemental data has been discontinued, although the PDF attached to this release does contain additional charts and tables for today's data. Contact Commerce Communications for further information on these changes.