Riverbird Research Publishes New Report on Asheville Economy
Feb 12, 2026 05:05PM ● By WNC Business
| On Thursday, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's internal research team, Riverbird Research, published its "Economic Indicators" report for December 2025. Highlights for the Asheville Metro (Buncombe, Henderson, and Madison counties) include: • Unemployment rate (household survey; labor force reflects employed residents and those actively seeking work): The Asheville metro’s average rate was 4.3% in 2025, up 0.8 percentage points from 2024, reflecting fewer residents employed and a modest contraction in the labor force. • Total nonfarm employment (establishment survey; payroll jobs): Average employment increased just 0.2% in 2025, reflecting uneven performance across industries, with gains in some sectors offsetting year-over-year declines in others. • Average hourly wages (private sector payroll jobs): Average hourly wages rose 6.1% in 2025, outpacing North Carolina (4.3%) and the United States (3.9%), reflecting shifts across industries. |
Read the full report here.