Unemployment rates across North Carolina’s 100 counties fell in March 2026, as announced by the state’s government. Hyde County recorded the highest unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, while Stanly and Currituck Counties had the lowest rates, at 2.8 percent each. The state’s metro areas also saw decreases in unemployment rates, with Rocky Mount having the highest rate among them at 4.7 percent, and Raleigh the lowest at 3.0 percent. The overall unemployment rate for the state, not seasonally adjusted, stood at 3.5 percent.
In March, 95 counties reported unemployment rates at or below 5 percent, a rise from 90 counties in February. Five counties had rates between 5 and 10 percent, while none had rates above 10 percent. When compared with the previous year, 93 counties experienced a decrease in unemployment rates, five saw an increase, and two remained unchanged. All 15 metro areas noted decreases over the year.
The state’s workforce grew in March, with 31,114 more individuals employed, bringing the total number of employed workers to 5,108,174. Simultaneously, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 17,410, bringing the number down to 185,549. Over the past year, there has been an increase of 10,610 in employed workers and a decrease of 16,597 in those unemployed.
The government emphasized the importance of considering year-over-year changes due to seasonal variations influencing employment estimates. The next update on unemployment figures is scheduled for May 22, 2026, which will reveal the statewide unemployment rate for April 2026.
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