The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate settled at 3.7% for September. This widespread improvement highlights the state's continued economic stability as it heads into the final quarter of the year.
Key Metrics and Regional Performance
The September report was overwhelmingly positive, characterized by broad-based improvements in employment levels across diverse geographic regions:
Broad Improvement: Unemployment rates decreased in 98 out of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Only one county saw an increase, while one remained unchanged.
Metro Success: All 15 metropolitan areas in the state recorded a decrease in their unemployment rates.
The Extremes:
Currituck County reported the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.7%.
Halifax County reported the highest rate at 5.6%.
Metro Rankings: The Raleigh metro area led the state with the lowest rate at 3.2%, while Rocky Mount recorded the highest at 5.1%.
Resilience in Western North Carolina
The mountains of Western North Carolina continue to show remarkable resilience, particularly in light of the long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene in 2024. The labor market in this region is stabilizing as infrastructure and local businesses return to full capacity.
Buncombe County: The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7%, down significantly from 4.2% in August.
Regional Lows: Swain County outperformed the regional average with a low rate of 3.2%.
Regional Highs: Rutherford County reported the highest unemployment in the WNC region at 4.5%.
Sector Shifts: While the leisure and hospitality sector remains down by approximately 2,000 jobs in the Buncombe area compared to this time last year, there has been a significant uptick in private education and health services employment.
Looking Forward
As the state transitions into the holiday season, economists will be watching to see if these gains hold steady. The next significant data release from the Department of Commerce is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026, which will detail the statewide figures for November.
WNCTimes