After suffering significant setbacks from Hurricane Helene, Buncombe County’s employment landscape is showing positive signs of recovery.
In September, Buncombe County recorded an unemployment rate of 3.7%, with approximately 5,300 individuals out of work. This marks an improvement from the 4.2% rate seen in August, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
This is the first instance since Hurricane Helene that Buncombe’s unemployment figures align with the state’s average. Following the hurricane’s impact in late September 2024, the county experienced a dramatic shift from the lowest to the highest unemployment rate in North Carolina. It now ranks mid-range among the state’s 100 counties.
In comparison, other counties in Western North Carolina show differing unemployment rates, from Swain’s low of 3.2% to Rutherford’s high of 4.5%.
Despite the overall positive trend in the job market, the leisure and hospitality sectors in Buncombe County continue to face challenges, with a reduction of 2,000 jobs compared to the previous year.
Conversely, sectors such as private education and health services are expanding, adding 1,700 jobs over the past year.
It’s important to note that October’s employment statistics will not be available due to a federal government shutdown, with the next update expected in mid-January when November’s data is released.
