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WNC Business

Recent Numbers Show Mountain Area Region Unemployment Rate at 3.2%

Feb 05, 2026 04:53PM ● By WNC Business
The N.C. Department of Commerce released its unemployment rates, based on counties, regions, and metro areas, on Feb. 4. 

According to the report, "unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 99 counties in December 2025 and increased in one. Edgecombe County had the highest unemployment rate at 5.4 percent while Stanly County had the lowest at 2.6 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate decreases. Among the metro areas, Rocky Mount had the highest rate at 4.8 percent while Raleigh had the lowest at 3.0 percent. The not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 3.4 percent."

Locally, the Asheville metro area had a 4.0 percent unemployment rate, which was the third lowest for metro areas in the state.

According to Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, the number of unemployed Individuals in the mountain area region, which includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties, was 7,967.

Swain County had the lowest unemployment rate in WNC at 3.6%, while Rutherford County had the highest at 5.3%. 

When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates increased in 65 counties, decreased in 24, and remained unchanged in 11. Thirteen metro areas experienced rate increases over the year and two decreased.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in December by 36,570 to 5,108,591, while those unemployed decreased by 39,163 to 181,301. Since December 2024, the number of workers employed statewide increased 41,381, while those unemployed increased 3,101.

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.

Source: Mountain Area Workforce Development Board and N.C. Department of Commerce





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