Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 counties in September 2026. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 4.7 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 2.3 percent. All 15 of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.2 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 2.7 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.1 percent.
| Month | Counties with Rates 5% or Below | Counties with Rates Between 5% and 10% | Counties with Rates Above 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 100 | 0 | 0 |
| August (revised) | 97 | 3 | 0 |
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All 15 metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year.
The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in September by 79,395 to 5,120,418, while those unemployed decreased by 23,482 to 164,944. Since September 2025, the number of workers employed statewide decreased 310, while those unemployed decreased 31,849.
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, November 20, 2026, when the statewide unemployment rate for October 2026 will be released.
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Note to Editors: Supplemental data for this release is 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.