Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 91 counties in February 2026, increased in five, and remained unchanged in four. Hyde County had the highest unemployment rate at 10.8 percent while Camden County had the lowest at 3.0 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.3 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.3 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.8 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 90 | 9 | 1 |
| January (revised) | 86 | 13 | 1 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 57 counties, increased in 27, and remained unchanged in 16. Six metro areas experienced rate increases over the year, five decreased, and four remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in February by 39,834 to 5,076,846, while those unemployed decreased by 11,264 to 203,179. Since February 2025, the number of workers employed statewide increased 19,384, while those unemployed decreased 6,890.
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, May 6, 2026 when the statewide unemployment rate for March 2026 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.