Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all 100 counties in July 2026. Edgecombe and Halifax Counties each had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.8 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.9 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% |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 94 | 6 | 0 |
| June (revised) | 98 | 2 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in 90 counties, increased in four, and remained unchanged in six. Fourteen metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year and one remained unchanged.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in July by 44,910 to 5,007,249, while those unemployed increased by 9,044 to 193,903. Since July 2025, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 110,239, while those unemployed decreased 24,413.
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, September 18, 2026, when the statewide unemployment rate for August 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.