Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 39 counties, decreased in 16, and remained unchanged in 45 in June 2026. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.7 percent. Seven of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases and eight remained unchanged. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.7 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.1 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.5 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| May (revised) | 97 | 3 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 96 counties, increased in two, and remained unchanged in two. All fifteen metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in June by 12,914 to 5,052,373, while those unemployed increased by 1,581 to 185,010. Since June 2025, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 48,169, while those unemployed decreased 26,059.
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 Friday, August 21, 2026, when the statewide unemployment rate for July 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 .