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, according to a recent report from the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Fourteen metro areas experienced rate increases over the year and one decreased. October 2025 data are unavailable due to the lapse in appropriations. Of the 15 “metro” areas in the state, Asheville had the third lowest unemployment rate. Raleigh-Cary was at 3.6 percent, Durham-Chapel Hill was second with 3.8 percent, while Asheville had a 4 percent unemployment rate.

Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent while Currituck County had the lowest at 3.3 percent. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 5.7 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.6 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 4.1 percent.

Several Western North Carolina counties were under the four percent mark, including Polk (3.9), Avery (3.9), Jackson (3.8), Watauga (3.8), Ashe (3.7), Henderson (3.7), Swain (3.6)

Buncombe County, which has the area’s largest labor force of 141,106, had a 4.1 percent unemployment rate in November. 

Rutherford County was in the top 10 of worst unemployment rates, with 5.3 percent. This was the highest percentage in Western North Carolina.

Since November 2024, the number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased 531 to 5,072,337, while those unemployed increased 22,644 to 218,867.

The next unemployment update is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026 when the statewide unemployment rate for December 2025 will be released.

Source: N.C. Department of Commerce