The state’s seasonally adjusted February 2026 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from January’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 701 over the month to 5,110,580 and increased 21,711 over the year. The number of people unemployed decreased 2,352 over the month to 201,100 and decreased 244 over the year.
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.
The state’s seasonally adjusted January 2026 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, unchanged from December’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate was unchanged from a year ago. The number of people employed decreased 3,494 over the month to 5,109,781 and increased 19,919 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 96 over the month to 203,481 and increased 2,876 over the year.
Governor Josh Stein, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, and North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette are encouraging North Carolina employers to hire veterans and to apply for recognition with a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, an official program of the U.S. Department of Labor. The application period ends April 30, 2026.
Today Governor Josh Stein celebrated the Siemen
Today Governor Josh Stein held his latest NC Strong Update to
The state’s seasonally adjusted December 2025 unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, unchanged from November’s revised rate. The national rate decreased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point from a year ago. The number of people employed increased 9,802 over the month to 5,104,078 and increased 14,611 over the year. The number of people unemployed increased 683 over the month to 204,751 and increased 8,543 over the year.
North Carolina's award-winning career development platform, NCcareers.org, has served one million North Carolinians, marking a 95% increase over the last 12 months and solidifying the platform's role as North Carolina's central hub for career exploration and planning. The free, comprehensive career development platform generated 6.6 million pageviews and 970,000 users in 2025 as students, job seekers, educators, and workforce professionals across the state turned to it for data-driven career guidance.
When compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 89 counties in November 2025, decreased in eight, and remained unchanged in three. Fourteen metro areas experienced rate increases over the year and one decreased. October 2025 data are unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations.
View the Task Force’s 2025 Year-End Report Here
Today Governor Josh Stein announced the release of the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education’s 2025 year-end report. Led by bipartisan co-chairs Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin (NC-12), the Task Force has developed six recommendations to make child care accessible and affordable across North Carolina and has identified opportunities to implement the recommendations.